National Democratic Movement vows to resist move to create new provinces

PESHAWAR - The National Democratic Movement (NDM) has firmly rejected plans to establish new provinces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that such actions aim to fragment the region. At a press conference held on Friday, NDM's central president, Mohsin Dawar, emphasized that decisions regarding the division of provinces should be made by parliament, and no single individual should have the authority to make such decisions.

Dawar argued that the proposed new administrative units were not a solution to the country's issues, but rather a means to create divisions within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He criticized Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for his comments on the matter, accusing him of speaking in a language that did not align with his own.

NDM leaders accused the federal government of attempting to reverse the allocation of resources and constitutional rights to smaller provinces, as outlined in the previous National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. Dawar highlighted that these smaller provinces were being overlooked in the distribution of resources and their rights were not being respected.

He questioned the government's commitment to peace initiatives, pointing out that while peace jirgas were convened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to tackle the rising law and order situation, the federal government did not show the necessary commitment. Dawar expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the province, stating that individuals were increasingly being forced to safeguard their own lives and property.

The NDM president lamented that Pakistan had encountered numerous challenges since its inception, but successive governments had failed to address the grievances of the country's various nationalities and people. He called for the resolution of public concerns, the restoration of peace, and ensuring that smaller provinces received their fair share under the NFC Award.

Dawar also rejected the notion of creating new provinces through force, arguing that such a step necessitated the establishment of a fresh social contract among all stakeholders.