New provinces: Opposition warns govt against ‘hasty decision’

The opposition has cautioned the government against rushing into a decision regarding the establishment of new provinces, emphasizing the need for consensus among political entities and residents before taking any action. Acting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking to reporters, cautioned that dividing any of the four provinces without the agreement of their inhabitants and elected representatives could exacerbate rather than resolve governance issues.

He stressed that the proposal should undergo examination by a commission, subsequent debate in parliament, and provincial assemblies before any resolution. "A consensus must be established first," he stressed, echoing the political accord that facilitated the 2010 18th Constitutional Amendment. Khan urged the next parliament to be the forum for this decision, asserting that haste would compromise the federation's unity.

He cautioned that creating provinces based on rejected local demands and without political accord could intensify the governance challenges the proposal sought to address. Khan also cautioned against additional "experimental trials" and contentious legislation. Meanwhile, Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questioned the proposal's timing, noting that the matter had not been deliberated in either parliament or provincial assemblies.

"Why is the issue of new provinces or administrative units being raised without prior discussion? Who is behind this proposal?" he questioned. Abbas, a senior figure in the opposition alliance TTAP, which includes PTI, queried the PML-N's stance on the issue, stating that the party's policy was unclear. He called for the government to unite all political parties and formulate a collective stance on the matter, describing the move as perilous.

Abbas also doubted whether any existing provincial assembly had approved a resolution to create a new province, as mandated by constitutional procedure. "This matter has not been raised in the parliament," he stated. Instead of forming new provinces, Abbas advocated for bolstering local governments and ensuring free and fair elections, arguing that governance issues should be tackled at the community level.

The discussion on new provinces intensified in late July when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi advocated for new administrative units as part of governance reforms. This proposal has stirred discord within the federal coalition and prompted opposition parties to demand comprehensive political consultation before any constitutional or administrative modifications.