MQM-P chief spurns census 2017 results

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Farooq Sattar on Sunday dismissed census 2017 results terming it rigged, ARY News reported.

He said it seemed as if cannibalism was done instead of census as a large portion of population was cut down.

“The figures of census results suggest as if census was conducted by cannibals. We would vote on delimitation if our head count would be correct. When head count is wrong then how could be delimitation correct,” he said addressing a protest rally against census in Karachi.

Expressing apprehensions on the provisional results of census 2017, he said Karachi’s population was no less than 30 million.

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“We have reservations on new delimitations as well. Our share is being abbreviated in resources, development funds, employment and educational institutions.”

“Conspiracy is being engineered to reduce our seats in assemblies. Our population has been showed to be 15 million less than the actual number,” he said.

The MQM-P chief said the Karachiites were counted in less numbers in censuses of 1998 and 2017. Preparations were being made to rob Karachiites of their rights, he said adding that not only Karachi but the residents of interior Sindh were also counted low in numbers.

He said with less number of head counts, Karachiites would have less representation in the assemblies, get less development funds and resources and basic facilities of water, power and other things.

Farooq also demanded that hearing for petition regarding census should be held in the Supreme Court as it was an issue of all the units living in Karachi.

“Karachi’s population has been counted to be 15 million, while the other 15 million have been vanished.”

The MQM-P chief said that the less counting was tantamount to pre-poll rigging, therefore the census should be held afresh.

Speaking on Panama Leaks case, the MQM-P chief said accountability should be held of those as well who had escaped from accountability so far.