KARACHI, Sep 08 (Alliance News): Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon has criticised federal ministers advocating the creation of new provinces, accusing them of having an “artificial mandate” and saying they should not make decisions on major national issues without a genuine public mandate.
Speaking in the Sindh Assembly on Monday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader described federal ministers supporting new provinces as “products of Form-47”, a term opposition parties use to question the legitimacy of the results of the 2024 general elections.
“Those lecturing us on the 18th Amendment are the products of Form-47,” Memon said, arguing that lawmakers with what he called an “artificial or handed-out mandate” could not make decisions for the country.
He said federal ministers, including Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, should raise their concerns in parliament if they had proposals regarding administrative restructuring.
Memon said decisions on such matters should be taken by elected representatives who had secured the public mandate. He also criticised the federal government over development priorities, alleging that while motorways were being constructed in Punjab, Sindh was being treated unfairly.
The debate over new provinces intensified after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan’s existing governance system had deteriorated and called for the creation of new administrative units.
Several federal ministers, including Iqbal and Kamal, subsequently supported discussions on creating additional provinces or administrative units.
The PML-N has yet to adopt a clear formal position on the issue, while the PPP has maintained that new provinces could be created if the people supported the idea. However, the Sindh Assembly, where the PPP holds power, recently passed a resolution rejecting the creation of new provinces in the province.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), meanwhile, has strongly supported the creation of new provinces.
PTI calls for wider consultations
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan called for consultations similar to those held before the passage of the 18th Amendment.
Gohar warned that rushing into decisions on new provinces could affect the unity of the federation. He said any proposal to divide Sindh, Punjab or Balochistan should be considered only after consultation with the public and their elected representatives.
“No contentious legislation should be done on new provinces,” he said.
Asif backs administrative units
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said he had no information about any specific plan for creating new provinces, but supported changes to Islamabad’s governance structure.
Speaking to Geo News, Asif said establishing an independent institution for Islamabad would be a positive development, whether it was called an assembly, provincial government or capital government.
He pointed to New Delhi as an example of a capital with its own government and said there was no reason to hesitate over such an arrangement.
Asif also cited Afghanistan, saying the country had increased the number of its provinces over time and arguing that the change could improve governance.
“This is a national issue, and there should be no opposition to it,” Asif said, adding that such reforms could strengthen the federation and the provinces.
He suggested that the term “administrative units” could be used instead of “provinces” to avoid confusion surrounding the proposal.
The debate now involves competing proposals ranging from the creation of new provinces to greater administrative decentralisation and stronger local governments, with political parties divided over the timing, process and potential impact on the federation.
