Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) members of the Sindh Assembly have fiercely criticized the Sindh government’s decision to transfer 38 officers and employees from the Sehwan Development Authority (SDA) to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), calling it a blatant violation of the urban-rural divide law and an injustice to Karachi’s youth.

The move, deemed administratively controversial, has sparked outrage among MQM-P lawmakers, who argue it undermines merit and deprives qualified urban youth of opportunities.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, MQM-P assembly members condemned the appointment of rural-based SDA officials to the urban-focused SBCA, asserting that it sidelines Karachi’s educated and capable youth. “This is a direct assault on the rights of Karachi’s talented individuals and a continuation of systemic discrimination against urban Sindh,” they said, accusing the provincial government of deliberately marginalizing urban areas in administrative matters.

MQM-P leaders further called on the federal government to take notice of this “injustice” and ensure that urban Sindh receives its constitutional rights. They highlighted that the transfer perpetuates a policy of exclusion, undermining the administrative autonomy of urban centers like Karachi.

In a bold move, MQM-P announced plans to challenge the decision in court, signaling a legal battle against what they term a “biased and discriminatory” action by the Sindh government.

The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of the SBCA following the tragic Lyari building collapse, which killed 27 people, raising questions about the authority’s oversight and staffing decisions.