LAHORE(National Times)- Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan has said any move to create new provinces is still at an early stage and may take six to eight months to go through parliament and its committees, making it clear that his party PML-N has not initiated the project.
Speaking at a meeting with journalists here on Sunday, he said that if a proposal for new provinces was formally brought before parliament, every political party and member would have an opportunity to express an opinion.
He said the matter could then be referred to a parliamentary or standing committee for detailed consideration.
“There is still a lot of time before the issue of provincial division comes before parliament,” he said, adding that the debate could ultimately produce proposals for new administrative units or lead to discussion on local government elections.
The PML-N leader questioned the decision to initiate the debate at an economic forum, saying such a platform was not meant for launching projects involving major constitutional and political changes.
“Those behind the project may have spoken to the PML-N, but if we have not introduced it, it does not mean we should stand against it with a stick,” he said.
He made it clear that no major proposal favouring the division of provinces had emerged from the PML-N. “When the PML-N has not started this project, you should understand what our line is,” he remarked.
On the question of Bahawalpur (division), he said the PML-N’s local leadership in Punjab did not want the region to be included in a proposed South Punjab province. He said some within the party favoured a separate Bahawalpur province, while others wanted it to remain linked with Lahore.
He said the Pakistan Peoples Party had benefited politically from the debate over provincial division because its workers had become emotionally aligned with the issue.
Referring to the controversial canal project, he said President Asif Ali Zardari had supported its construction but the PPP subsequently mobilised public opposition that resulted in the project being halted.
Asked about reports of back-channel contacts with PTI founder Imran Khan, Rana Sana said there might be behind-the-scenes communication, but “there is a price” for adopting such a course and whoever chose it would have to pay that price.
Regarding differences involving the federal interior minister, Rana Sana said the minister could be asked for an explanation when he spoke in the cabinet or Senate. He said Federal Minister Sheikh Qaiser met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif every other day in his presence and that he did not understand his claim of not having met the premier.
“Some matters are meant for deliberation. Everything should not be made public,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Punjab Assembly Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad and PML-N leaders Zubair Gul, Rana Imran, Ghulam Mustafa and Dr Saeed Elahi, besides senior journalists Mujeebur Rehman Shami, Sohail Warraich, Saleem Bukhari, Hafizullah Niazi, Naveed Chaudhry, Pervez Bashir, Mansoor Ali Khan, Salman Ghani and others.
