Dr. Farooq Sattar Calls for New Provinces and a Referendum
Mian Nadeem | Published: 13th Sep, 2026
A leading figure from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Dr. Farooq Sattar, has advocated for the creation of new provinces and administrative divisions in Pakistan, even suggesting a public referendum on the matter.
Addressing a ceremony in Karachi, Dr. Sattar highlighted the dominance of a few families over all four existing provinces and decried the lack of progress since the 18th Amendment aimed at empowering these regions. He accused political parties of neglecting to address provincial autonomy in their manifestos.
"Today, we must acknowledge that we are not economically, politically, or participatively autonomous," he declared. Dr. Sattar proposed dividing Sindh into five distinct divisions—Northern, Central, Southern, Western, and Eastern—while granting Karachi special status within Sindh. He further argued for direct powers and resources to be granted to cities and rural areas of Sindh.
The MQM leader criticized the continuous debasement of local governments, even during periods of martial law. He specifically pointed to Article 239(4) of the Constitution as having been intentionally preserved by feudal interests.
Dr. Sattar called for public opinion to be sought under Article 48(6), believing that residents of Larkana and other Sindh areas would support new administrative units. He organized a rally on Shahrah-e-Faisal to advocate for this cause, framing the issue as critical to Pakistan’s survival, security, and prosperity. Ultimately, he proposed a public referendum across Pakistan or in regions with strong demands for new provinces.
