ISLAMABAD(National Times)- PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday cautioned against making any \u201chasty decision\u201d regarding the creation of new provinces, saying it would weaken the federation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Gohar said that dividing any of the four provinces, if done against the will of their residents and their representatives, would \u201cweaken the federation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet a consensus be formed first; a commission should be set up on it, and deliberations should be held. Eventually, the new parliament that will come, those public representatives should review and provide consensus,\u201d the PTI chairman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He called for building consensus on the matter, similar to the large-scale political agreement reached at the time of the 18th Amendment in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny decision, if taken, should be made after that. Making any hasty decision, in our opinion, will be against the federation\u2019s unity,\u201d Gohar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you make provinces based on reasons unacceptable to the people and on which there is no consensus, you will create further complications instead of solving the issue of good governance,\u201d he contended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PTI leader urged against carrying out \u201cfurther such experimental trials\u201d and enacting any \u201ccontroversial legislation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senator Abbas notes lack of discussion
Meanwhile, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questioned the lack of a discussion in the parliament on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, he said, \u201cNeither the federal cabinet has made the decision, nor have the National Assembly or Senate or the provinces discussed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy is this matter being raised when no discussion has been held? From whom is this [proposal]?\u201d the opposition leader asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abbas, part of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan opposition alliance (TTAP) that includes the PTI, contended that the PML-N\u2019s \u201cparty policy was silent\u201d on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He suggested that the government should \u201cgather all parties and take a collective stand against this dangerous move\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe opposition would also support them for Constitutional supremacy and for Pakistan\u2019s stability,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TTAP leader questioned whether any of the current provincial assemblies had passed a resolution demanding new provinces, as per the Constitutional procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis matter has not been raised in the parliament. We do not consider it our issue. Our issue is to strengthen local governments and hold free and fair elections; correct the issue from there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Debate around new provinces
The recent debate regarding the creation of new provinces sparked in late July when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for new provinces as part of reforms to the current governance system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The issue gained momentum after Naqvi\u2019s proposal drew strong reactions from government ministers, while the country\u2019s leading lawyers\u2019 bodies adopted divergent positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) \u2014 an ally of the Centre coalition \u2014 has been demanding that Karachi be designated a province separate from Sindh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the PPP, which rules Sindh and is also an ally of the PML-N government at the Centre along with MQM-P, has strongly opposed the suggested move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, the PPP and the PTI have long advocated for a South Punjab province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Saturday, the PPP stepped up its opposition to the federal government\u2019s statements on new administrative units. The PPP Sindh leadership called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to restrain his ministers from making statements on new provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at an event the same day, Naqvi reiterated his proposal, saying: \u201cNew administrative units will eventually have to be created as Pakistan\u2019s growing population and changing needs can no longer be effectively managed through the existing administrative structure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister stressed that any such move must take place strictly within the constitutional and legal framework, through political consensus and based on the will of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a top government functionary, there was a serious debate underway in power corridors last month over the most feasible approach to creating new provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government source, who was privy to developments, thought the discussion was a precursor to the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday cautioned against making any \u201chasty decision\u201d regarding the creation of new provinces, saying it would weaken the federation. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Gohar said that dividing any of the four provinces, if done against the will of their residents and their representatives, would \u201cweaken […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132666,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n