KARACHI(National Times)- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday said the PTI would not back any move to create new provinces without the explicit approval of party founder Imran Khan, while PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan cautioned the federal government against \u201chasty decisions\u201d that could weaken the federation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a ceremony organised by the Sindh High Court Bar Association in Karachi, the KP chief minister said his party stood with the people of Sindh on the issue of provinces. He criticised the constitutional amendments, saying that out of 27 amendments so far made in the Constitution, people only benefited from the 18th and 25th amendments while other changes were allegedly aimed at giving exemption to those in power from accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja claimed that changes to the country\u2019s constitutional framework were being planned to introduce the 28th Constitutional Amendment that would alter the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority in a provincial assembly for the creation of provinces. \u201cWe opposed the 26th and 27th amendments and will oppose the 28th Amendment as well,\u201d he maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gohar cautions against \u2018hasty decisions\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PTI leader 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 the federal capital, the PTI chairman 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 Mr Gohar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senator notes lack of discussion<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opposition Leader in Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, who is part of the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), questioned the lack of a discussion in parliament on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During an interaction with journalists, the opposition leader said, \u201cNeither the federal cabinet has made the decision, nor have the National Assembly or Senate or the provinces discussed it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy is this matter being raised when no discussion has been held? From whom is this [proposal]?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The opposition leader contended that the PML-N\u2019s \u201cparty policy was silent\u201d on the matter. He suggested that the government should \u201cgather all parties and take a collective stand against this dangerous move\u201d. \u201cThe opposition would also support them for Constitutional supremacy and for Pakistan\u2019s stability,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI(National Times)- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday said the PTI would not back any move to create new provinces without the explicit approval of party founder Imran Khan, while PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan cautioned the federal government against \u201chasty decisions\u201d that could weaken the federation. Addressing a ceremony organised […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n