Asif hopeful of consensus on new provinces, says it will bring 'progressive' change in political landscape

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed optimism on Sunday that the creation of new provinces in Pakistan would bring a progressive change to the nation's political landscape. Speaking on the Geo News programme 'Naya Pakistan', Asif made these remarks in response to reports of discussions about reaching a consensus for establishing new provinces, referencing two recent high-level meetings involving the president.

Though he stated he had no inside information on the matter, Asif said consultations to create a consensus had been ongoing for weeks and he expected the political landscape to change progressively if consensus was reached.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday night, and the two discussed an agreement to adhere to constitutional provisions while creating new provinces or administrative units. On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Zardari, and the Presidency denied reports that they discussed province-related matters.

According to sources, the President and PM agreed that Parliament could not be bypassed in deciding on a referendum for new provinces, ensuring that public questions would be framed appropriately.

Asif dismissed the notion that the push for new provinces was originating from specific quarters, stating that he had long advocated for a robust local governance system. He emphasized that the idea of new provinces would benefit all provinces and Pakistan as a whole. Asif added that he hoped the new year would see the new system come into force, potentially by 2026. He also noted that the 18th Amendment's local government provisions had not been fully implemented.

Political parties, particularly the PPP in Sindh, have been unwilling to soften their stance on new provinces, maintaining a resolution opposing provincial division. Asif suggested that space would be given to political parties to create consensus in a mutually beneficial way, with no decision being imposed upon them. Regarding PTI founder Imran Khan, Asif hinted that a consensus could potentially create an opportunity for the jailed ex-PM to return to mainstream politics.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah opposed the division of Sindh into smaller provinces, stressing that it was neither legally nor politically acceptable as people of the province had repeatedly rejected the idea. The defence minister had earlier argued that Pakistan could have up to 12 provinces based on administrative requirements rather than linguistic, ethnic, or political factors.