PTI warns against ‘hasty decisions’ on provinces

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi warned on Monday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would not support any attempt to establish new provinces without the explicit approval of party founder Imran Khan. Interim PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan cautioned the federal government against making "hasty decisions" that could weaken the federation.

Addressing a ceremony, the KP chief minister criticized constitutional amendments, claiming that while people benefited from the 18th and 25th amendments, other changes aimed to exempt those in power from accountability. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja stated that the 28th Amendment, which would alter the constitutional requirement for a two-thirds majority in provincial assemblies for creating provinces, was also opposed.

Gohar emphasized the importance of forming a consensus and setting up a commission to deliberate on the matter before any decision was made. Opposition Leader in Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questioned the lack of discussion in parliament on the issue, noting that neither the federal cabinet, the National Assembly, nor the Senate had addressed it.

He suggested that the government should gather all parties and reach a collective stand against the move, emphasizing the need for constitutional supremacy and Pakistan's stability.