Tessori’s reinstatement MQM-P’s ‘red line’ for budget support: Farooq Sattar

KARACHI: MQM-P senior leader Farooq Sattar has demanded reinstatement of former Sindh governor Kamran Tessori, linking it to party support for the federal budget.

Sattar said that the party had decided to make Tessori’s reinstatement a “red line” condition for backing the government’s budget in parliament.

He said that the demand was discussed in a meeting of MQM-P lawmakers, including members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies, where there was broad consensus about the issue within the party.

“The entire party stands with Kamran Tessori,” Sattar said, adding that his tenure as governor remained “unmatched” in terms of engagement and performance, according to a report in Geo Urdu.

Tessori served as Sindh governor from October 2022 to March 2026 before being removed from office.

Sattar said that the MQM-P believed Tessori’s removal had weakened the party’s ability to highlight urban Sindh’s issues, adding that the governor’s office had previously served as an effective platform for raising civic concerns.

He said the party would take a firm position during budget discussions and would openly raise the issue of Tessori’s reinstatement in negotiations with the government.

Sattar also urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to “show flexibility,” saying that even a small concession on the issue would help strengthen coalition unity.

He warned that failure to address MQM-P’s concerns could affect the party’s support for the budget.

Another senior MQM-P leader, speaking on condition of anonmity, said the issue had not yet been formally debated at the party’s central committee level, but added that there would be no objection if the prime minister re-nominated Tessori and the president approved the appointment.

He said that the governor represented the federation and stressed that the party’s primary concern was addressing the issues faced by the Urdu-speaking community in Sindh.

MQM-P holds 22 seats in the National Assembly and three in the Senate, making it a key coalition partner for the federal government.

The party played an important role in securing parliamentary support for the 27th constitutional amendment, and its stance on the upcoming budget is seen as significant for the ruling coalition’s stability.

Political observers say any withdrawal of MQM-P support could complicate budget passage in parliament.