PTI's Gohar says any 'hasty decision' on new provinces would weaken federation

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday cautioned against making any “hasty decision” 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 “weaken the federation”.

“Let 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,” the PTI chairman said.

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.

“Any decision, if taken, should be made after that. Making any hasty decision, in our opinion, will be against the federation’s unity,” Gohar said.

“If 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,” he contended.

The PTI leader urged against carrying out “further such experimental trials” and enacting any “controversial legislation”.

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.

Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, he said, “Neither the federal cabinet has made the decision, nor have the National Assembly or Senate or the provinces discussed it.

“Why is this matter being raised when no discussion has been held? From whom is this [proposal]?” the opposition leader asked.

Abbas, part of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan opposition alliance (TTAP) that includes the PTI, contended that the PML-N’s “party policy was silent” on the matter.

He suggested that the government should “gather all parties and take a collective stand against this dangerous move”.

“The opposition would also support them for Constitutional supremacy and for Pakistan’s stability,” he added.

The TTAP leader questioned whether any of the current provincial assemblies had passed a resolution demanding new provinces, as per the Constitutional procedure.

“This 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,” he said.

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.

The issue gained momentum after Naqvi’s proposal drew strong reactions from government ministers, while the country’s leading lawyers’ bodies adopted divergent positions.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) — an ally of the Centre coalition — has been demanding that Karachi be designated a province separate from Sindh.

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.

On the other hand, the PPP and the PTI have long advocated for a South Punjab province.

On Saturday, the PPP stepped up its opposition to the federal government’s 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.

Speaking at an event the same day, Naqvi reiterated his proposal, saying: “New administrative units will eventually have to be created as Pakistan’s growing population and changing needs can no longer be effectively managed through the existing administrative structure.”

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.

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.

The government source, who was privy to developments, thought the discussion was a precursor to the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.