Parliament to decide on creating new provinces: Sanaullah
Says a referendum on the issue would also need approval from the legislature
Rana Sanaullah, the Prime Minister's adviser on political affairs, stated that the discussion on establishing new provinces should occur within Parliament, with a potential referendum contingent on legislative approval. Addressing journalists in Lahore, Sanaullah affirmed that the final decision would be made by Parliament, should a public opinion poll be conducted.
He proposed that all political parties and provincial leaders should engage in discussions to resolve the matter appropriately. Sanaullah disclosed that internal PML-N deliberations were taking place to form a unified perspective on the formation of new provinces, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expected to express his views on the legislature floor.
Sanaullah dismissed statements and speeches as ineffective, emphasizing that the debate should take place in the lower house. He stated that the matter did not belong to economic forums, and declared that declaring the creation or non-creation of provinces would bypass Parliament. Regarding the strained relations between the PPP and PML-N, Sanaullah noted that tensions had eased following a recent bilateral meeting.
He proposed holding such meetings monthly, stating that the latest one occurred after a two to three-month hiatus. When asked about Jamaat-e-Islami's protest over petrol prices, Sanaullah remarked that the prime minister prioritized reducing petrol prices more than Jamaat-e-Islami. He expressed hope for peaceful political activities and revealed that the government had requested a two-week postponement from the party for a protest, proposing solutions such as subsidies to alleviate public concerns.
Sanaullah linked the rise in petrol prices to the US-Iran conflict and stated that efforts were being made to achieve a diplomatic resolution. He cautioned against potential involvement of those with non-peaceful intentions in the unrest, urging law enforcement agencies to take action against individuals with hostile objectives.
Sanaullah announced that a Punjab PML-N meeting would replace inactive office-bearers within the next 30 days. Additionally, the Punjab government planned to hold local government elections.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
