LAHORE(National Times)- Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Saturday that Parliament will decide on the matter of creating new provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recent debate regarding new provinces began in late July when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for new provinces as part of reforms to the current governance system, drawing strong reactions from government ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During a press conference in Lahore, Sanaullah was asked about Naqvi\u2019s recent remarks where he said that \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 PML-N leader replied that making such statements at business seminars or conferences had not resulted in any \u201cimprovement\u201d in the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn my humble opinion, this debate should have been started in Parliament,\u201d he said, adding that issues of such magnitude should not be reduced to speeches, social media, seminars or business forums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe outcome will also emerge in Parliament,\u201d the PM\u2019s adviser said, adding that the \u201cmatter will be resolved in a better direction\u201d when all political parties and the leadership of all provinces discuss it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn any circumstance, the decision of whether any province will be created or not will be made in Parliament, and by Parliament,\u201d Sanaullah reiterated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also stressed that Naqvi, in his remarks, had said the creation of new provinces depended on whether the public wanted it. \u201cIf the public wants, then no one can stop it. The decision of whether the public wants it or not can only be made in Parliament,\u201d the PML-N leader said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sanaullah said his party was deliberating upon the matter and will issue a policy statement after participating in the debate and once it \u201ccomes to a proper place where a result could emerge\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PM\u2019s aide further said that no minister had raised the matter before the federal cabinet so far, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would issue the appropriate directives once the topic is discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasised that even if a referendum were to be held to gauge public opinion, it would require approval by the parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He remarked that the PML-N was not \u201cbound\u201d to issue a statement on the topic of new provinces merely based on economic forums. Referring to the Sindh Assembly\u2019s adoption of a resolution against dividing the province, Sanaullah said the PPP had \u201coverreacted\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coalition partners to resolve differences
Speaking on the recent rift between the PPP and the PML-N, the minister said differences between the two parties had, by and large, been resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sanaullah, who is also a member of the core committees formed to resolve differences between the two major coalition partners, said after attending a meeting at Governor House that any remaining issues would be settled amicably, as both sides were committed to resolving them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIdeally, the core committees should meet every month, but this could not happen due to the elections in GB and AJK. Meetings will now hopefully be held more regularly to smooth over any old or new rough patches,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He attributed the tensions mainly to emotionally charged election campaigns in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, saying the campaigns were now over and so were the frictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PPP, which rules Sindh and is also an ally of the PML-N government at the Centre, has strongly opposed the suggested move to carve out Karachi as a separate province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PML-N\u2019s Khawaja Asif, who had earlier noted that the appropriate forum for such a discussion was the parliament, said last week that devolution of power was \u201cinevitable\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The opposition parties, including the PTI, have said they will hold consultations to call an all-parties conference to discuss several issues, including the creation of new provinces, law and order and the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PTI, JI marches to Islamabad
Asked about the plans of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the PTI to march towards Islamabad on September 20 and 27, respectively, Sanaullah remarked that the JI\u2019s past political activities had been peaceful while the same could not be expected from the PTI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone knows that JI is a political party and it has always carried out its activities according to the Constitutional and legal requirements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He affirmed that the government \u201crespected\u201d political protests and therefore had held negotiations with the JI during which its representatives \u201ccarefully and seriously listened to their demands\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PM\u2019s adviser urged JI leaders not to \u201coverwork themselves needlessly\u201d as the PML-N and PM Shehbaz also wanted a reduction in the fuel prices and electricity bills \u201cas much as and even more than JI did\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, Sanaullah said the government had \u201cno expectation\u201d that the PTI\u2019s long march would remain peaceful and referred to remarks made by its leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf they are coming to Islamabad to overthrow the government and if this is their intention and thinking, then it is obvious that they will carry out violence after coming there,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBased on these reports, our assessment is that it could be a replay of May 9. If it takes that route and assumes a similar proportion, it would be very unfortunate. Since the matter is also before the courts, the government is awaiting their decisions before finalising its strategy. But one thing is certain: violence cannot be allowed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE(National Times)- Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Saturday that Parliament will decide on the matter of creating new provinces. The recent debate regarding new provinces began in late July when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for new provinces as part of reforms to the current governance system, drawing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n