The President House issued a clarification on Friday refuting media reports that provincial matters were discussed during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The meeting took place in Nawabshah on Thursday night.
The President House stated, “There is no truth in media reports claiming that matters relating to the provinces were discussed during the interior minister's meeting with the president.” The spokesperson added, “Matters concerning national security and the regional situation were discussed at the meeting, but no provincial matters were discussed.”
The clarification follows reports that Naqvi made a surprise, urgent visit to Nawabshah to carry an important message from a senior national figure and to take the president into confidence. These reports suggested the meeting focused on proposals to create new provinces and the possibility of holding a referendum on the issue.
The debate over new provinces gained momentum on July 31 when Naqvi called for additional administrative units or provinces to overhaul what he described as the country's outdated governance system. Speaking at the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad, Naqvi argued the existing model had effectively “collapsed” and that decentralisation was essential for public services and justice.
Naqvi reaffirmed his stance earlier this week, suggesting political parties hold a referendum to gauge public opinion as the “solution” to the debate. He claimed on Thursday that he and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were “nearly on the same page,” stating, “He [Bilawal] said that political matters are about to be reset, while my suggestion is that overall matters are about to be reset.”
However, the PPP, which rules Sindh and is an ally of the PML-N government, has strongly opposed the move. In September, the Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution rejecting any attempts to divide the province. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declared that “there will be no compromise on Sindh's geographical unity.” Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also called for a “full stop” on the debate surrounding new provinces.
Legal experts cited by The Express Tribune noted that a public vote alone cannot create a new province. Any change to provincial boundaries must follow the constitutional amendment procedure, including approval from the relevant provincial assembly. While a referendum could provide democratic legitimacy, it would not replace these constitutional requirements.
