Has Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Lost the Chairmanship of MQM-Pakistan?

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) updated and uploaded a list of 161 political parties on its official website, ecp.gov.pk, on November 5, 2026.

The list contains the serial number, name of the political party, name of its head, address of its central office, and contact telephone number. However, against serial number 42, where Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-Pakistan) is listed, the column designated for the party chief’s name has been left blank.

This omission has raised questions about whether Federal Minister for Education Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who has repeatedly obtained extensions in his capacity as party chairman, has been removed from the ECP’s list of party heads due to the repeated postponement of MQM-Pakistan’s intra-party elections.

The issue of holding intra-party elections in MQM-Pakistan has remained controversial for several years. Despite repeated warnings from the Election Commission, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has failed to conduct the elections. According to sources, Siddiqui has repeatedly sought extensions from the ECP, citing various reasons, including the Iran-USA war and his health condition, resulting in successive postponements.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had assured the Election Commission that MQM-Pakistan would hold its intra-party elections on October 14, 2026. However, he failed to fulfil that commitment. Consequently, the ECP issued him a show-cause notice a few days ago, asking him to explain within two weeks the reasons for failing to conduct the elections.

Intra-party elections have not been held in MQM-Pakistan for an extended period, creating considerable unrest among party workers. On several occasions and at different party forums, Federal Minister for Health and senior MQM-Pakistan leader Syed Mustafa Kamal has also expressed strong reservations over the delaying tactics being employed in holding intra-party elections.

The disappearance of Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui’s name from the ECP’s updated list of political parties, uploaded on November 5, has triggered a wave of concern and speculation within MQM circles. Questions are being raised about how Siddiqui can continue making decisions on behalf of the party if the Election Commission is not recognising him as its chairman.

There is also growing speculation within party circles that Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui may have lost his position as MQM-Pakistan’s chairman.