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MQM-Pakistan Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of creating an ethnic divide in Sindh. He said the province had not simply been divided into urban and rural areas. Instead, he claimed that a linguistic and ethnic division had been created. Speaking at a public gathering in Hyderabad, Siddiqui said Muhajirs were settled in 21 cities across Sindh. He said his party had always preferred political and peaceful struggle over confrontation. Siddiqui warned that if the people participating in the political movement were directed towards the Chief Minister’s House, the situation could reach a decisive point. However, he stressed that MQM-P had never called for fighting. He said the party wanted different communities to recognise and respect each other. The MQM-P chief said the cities of Sindh belonged to the descendants of people who had contributed to the creation of Pakistan. He said they had brought their share of Pakistan with them and had continued to remain committed to the country. Siddiqui also spoke about abandoned properties in Sindh. He claimed that the Muhajir community had not received even 10 per cent of what he described as its rightful share. He said the community’s love for Pakistan and desire for peace should not be considered a weakness. He said MQM-P would continue raising the rights of the people regardless of the number of votes it received. Siddiqui claimed that the party was bigger than the assemblies and said its presence represented Pakistan. The MQM-P chairman also urged the federal government to take the party’s demands seriously. He said one of the party’s major demands was the establishment and empowerment of effective local governments. Siddiqui argued that strong local governments were necessary to solve problems at the grassroots level. He said people should have greater control over decisions affecting their cities and communities. The MQM-P leader also demanded a fair and accurate population census in Sindh. He said every person must be properly counted to ensure fair political representation and distribution of resources. Siddiqui warned that those responsible for failing to count people accurately would eventually have to answer for it. He claimed that two sections of society were currently contributing to the state’s economy in Sindh but were not receiving proportionate representation. He argued that a transparent population count could resolve many of the grievances surrounding political representation. According to Siddiqui, if the people of Sindh were properly counted, the demand for a separate province would no longer remain necessary. His remarks come amid an ongoing political debate in Sindh over population figures, ethnic representation, local government powers and the distribution of resources. The MQM-P has repeatedly called for stronger local governments and greater representation for urban areas. The party maintains that accurate population data is essential for determining political representation and ensuring a fair share of development resources.

Islamabad: The federal government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its interim order directing the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital. In its petition, the government described the Supreme Court’s interim order as an overreach of legal authority. It argued that the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, clearly prescribe the procedure for providing medical treatment to prisoners. According to the government, a prisoner can be shifted to a government civil hospital or a district headquarters hospital when necessary. However, it said there is no provision in the law for transferring a prisoner to a private hospital. The government also maintained that prison laws and the Prisons Act do not give a prisoner the right to receive treatment from a private doctor of his choice. The petition stated that Imran Khan’s case had been fixed for hearing for the first time and that he had not even been issued a notice. Despite this, the court issued an interim order regarding his medical treatment and transfer. The government argued that the court appeared to have reached the conclusion that Imran Khan’s health was deteriorating on the basis of a medical report. However, according to the petition, the report did not clearly indicate any such deterioration. It further stated that a medical board had examined Imran Khan several times. The government maintained that expert medical opinions should have been sought before making a decision on such a medical matter. The petition also challenged the use of Section 561-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, arguing that the provision cannot be used to interfere in matters falling within the jurisdiction of prison authorities. The government further objected to the relief granted to Imran Khan at the interim stage. It said four requests were effectively granted through the interim order, including his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, access to personal doctors, meetings with family members, and provision of medical reports to his lawyers. According to the government, such relief at the interim stage amounted to granting final relief without completing the regular legal proceedings. The petition also warned that allowing a special facility for Imran Khan at a private hospital could set a precedent for other prisoners. It argued that other inmates could make similar demands under prison laws, potentially creating a large number of such requests. The government maintained that providing such special treatment would also conflict with the principle of equal treatment of prisoners.

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has confirmed that two specialists from Shifa International Hospital were involved in the eye examination of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. According to a statement issued by PIMS on Saturday, Imran Khan was brought to the Islamabad hospital during the night between August 20 and 21 for a medical examination and treatment. The institute said the ophthalmological assessment was carried out with the participation of two Shifa International specialists. Other required examinations were conducted by doctors at PIMS. PIMS said the findings from the eye assessment were reviewed alongside the results of investigations conducted by its own medical specialists. A medical board consisting of PIMS doctors subsequently compiled the overall medical fitness report. However, the institute said it would not make the contents of the medical report public. PIMS cited patient confidentiality as well as directions issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for withholding the details of the report. The clarification comes amid controversy over the treatment and medical care being provided to Imran Khan, who is currently detained at Adiala Jail. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had directed that Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for several days. The court also ordered the government to facilitate weekly meetings between him and his family. The Supreme Court further directed authorities to provide access to Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan. It ordered the formation of a medical board that would include an ophthalmologist, general physician and cardiologist, along with Dr Sultan. The government subsequently filed a review petition against the court’s order, describing the decision as discriminatory. Confusion arose later when reports suggested that Imran Khan was being moved from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later said that the former prime minister had instead been taken to PIMS because of security concerns surrounding Shifa Hospital and the route leading to it. Tarar said doctors from Shifa International were also present during the medical examination at PIMS. After the examination, Imran Khan was declared medically fit and taken back to Adiala Jail. The development has drawn further attention from PTI and Imran Khan’s family, who have repeatedly raised concerns about his health and medical treatment. Imran Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, also spoke publicly after meeting him and alleged that he was facing severe injustice and mistreatment.