Key Takeaways
- PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to debate governance reforms in Parliament.
- Naqvi had previously called for an overhaul of the country’s governance structure and creation of new provinces.
- Sindh Assembly rejected any attempts to divide the province, with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah opposing the move.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called for governance reforms to be debated in Parliament, rather than at business forums, in response to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent calls for new provinces.
During a media interaction in London, where he is on a visit with his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari questioned Naqvi’s approach, stating, 'Mohsin Naqvi sahib must be speaking his own language, and I speak my language. It is his right to express his opinion.'
He emphasized that the creation of new provinces should be discussed in the National Assembly, adding, 'So instead of [speaking at] business forums, Mohsin Naqvi should visit [Parliament].'
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reiterated his stance, saying, 'I am ready to debate this with any representative of the federal government or a federal minister,' and stressed the need for open discussion of historical issues affecting the system.
The proposal by Naqvi in July sparked strong reactions, with government ministers and leading lawyers’ bodies adopting divergent positions. The PPP, which rules Sindh and is an ally of the PML-N government at the Centre, has strongly opposed the move.
The party maintains that any decision to create new provinces must be taken through the constitutional and parliamentary process and with political consensus. Its opposition is mainly to the proposed division of Sindh, but it has long advocated for a South Punjab province, a position shared by the opposition PTI.
On the other hand, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which is an ally of the Centre coalition but forms the opposition in Sindh, has been demanding that Karachi be designated a province separate from Sindh.
In a significant development, the Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution rejecting all attempts to divide the province or create new administrative units. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declared, 'There will be no compromise on Sindh’s geographical unity.'
Following the resolution, the Sindh Assembly Secretariat sent letters to the principal secretaries to the president and prime minister, and to the Senate and National Assembly, informing them about the resolution.
Mohsin Naqvi sahib must be speaking his own language, and I speak my language. It is his right to express his opinion.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, PPP Chairman
There will be no compromise on Sindh’s geographical unity.
Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Chief Minister
