Key Takeaways
- PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan cautions against creating new provinces.
- Any decision should be made after consensus and deliberations.
- Opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questions lack of parliamentary discussion.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has warned against making any 'hasty decision' regarding the creation of new provinces, stating that such actions would weaken the federation.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Gohar emphasized the need for a consensus-building process, suggesting that a commission should be set up to deliberate on the matter.
He called for a similar approach to the political agreement reached during the 18th Amendment in 2010, stressing that any decision should be made after thorough deliberations and consensus among public representatives.
Gohar Ali Khan urged against carrying out 'further such experimental trials' and enacting any 'controversial legislation', highlighting the potential risks of hasty decisions.
Meanwhile, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questioned the lack of discussion in the parliament on the matter, noting that neither the federal cabinet nor the National Assembly or Senate had discussed it.
Abbas pointed out that the PML-N’s party policy was silent on the issue and suggested that the government should gather all parties to take a collective stand against the proposed move.
He also questioned whether any of the current provincial assemblies had passed a resolution demanding new provinces, as per the Constitutional procedure.
The recent debate on new provinces was sparked in late July when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for reforms to the current governance system, including the creation of new provinces.
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) has been demanding that Karachi be designated a province separate from Sindh, while the PPP, which rules Sindh, has strongly opposed the move.
On the other hand, the PPP and the PTI have long been involved in discussions on the matter, reflecting the complex political landscape surrounding the issue.
Let a consensus be formed first; a commission should be set up on it, and deliberations should be held.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, PTI Chairman
Why is this matter being raised when no discussion has been held?
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Senate Opposition Leader
