LONDON, Sep 05 (Alliance News): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari have reaffirmed their opposition to any move to divide Sindh, party sources said following a five-hour meeting in London.
The meeting was held at Zardari’s residence and was also attended by Bilawal’s sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, according to the sources.
Bilawal and Zardari discussed Pakistan’s political and overall situation, while the issue of Sindh’s territorial integrity remained a key point of discussion.
According to the sources, the meeting concluded with the PPP leadership deciding to maintain its firm position against any division of Sindh.
The speech delivered by PPP leader Faryal Talpur was also discussed during the meeting, the sources added.
The meeting comes amid a renewed political debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units in Pakistan.
The Sindh Assembly on September 3 passed a resolution rejecting any proposal to divide the province, alter its territorial boundaries or create new administrative units.
The resolution stated that the provincial assembly would not consent to any territorial alteration involving Sindh.
Bilawal has previously said that the PPP’s position on the creation of new provinces is clear and that such decisions should be taken through political consensus.
He has also maintained that any issue concerning Sindh should be discussed through the provincial assembly.
The latest debate began in late July when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan’s governance system had “collapsed” and called for new administrative units, while suggesting that these could be provinces or other forms of administrative divisions.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal later proposed creating 12 to 15 provinces and called for a national debate and political consensus on administrative reforms.
The proposals faced strong opposition in Sindh, particularly from the PPP, which has rejected any move to divide the province.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the PPP’s position, accusing the party of adopting a “double standard” by supporting a Saraiki province in Punjab while opposing wider restructuring.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah later described the debate as premature, while the PPP maintained that questions concerning provinces should be discussed through the relevant assemblies.
Following the London meeting, Bilawal and Bakhtawar left for their residence. Bilawal told reporters that he would remain in London for the next few days.
