The legislators of the Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday demanded the federal government take solid measures to resolve the issue of new provinces on political grounds.
During the assembly session that started with Speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhootani in the chair, Minister for Youth Affairs and PML-N leader (r) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai and PML-Q MPA Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail tabled the resolution that read, “This House recommends the provincial government to approach the federal government keeping in view the situation that the debate in the media on the demand for new provinces on ethnic grounds was negatively affecting the country. Therefore, the federal government should take solid measures to resolve the issue on political basis as the country could not afford more crisis.”
The mover, Mandokhail said carving out new provinces on ethnic basis would damage the country, therefore new provinces should only be formed on administrative grounds. He said Afghanistan and many other countries had more provinces than Pakistan. However, he said debate on a Saraiki province was launched in a wrong way and demanded a political consensus on the issue.
He said constitutional and technical support committees in line with committee on the 18th Amendment headed by Senator Raza Rabbani should be formed to deal with the issue.
Minister for Industries Ahsan Shah said former dictator General Yahya Khan after dissolving the One Unit carved out new province in the wrong manner.
Minister for Revenue Engineer Zamarak Khan Piralizai said his party, the Awami National Party, completely supported the demand for a Saraiki province. He said the Saraiki belt comprised of underdeveloped areas and the people of the belt had a right to demand a province for themselves.
MPA Tariq Bugti said although new provinces could address the problems facing the masses, a debate on the issue was meaningless.
Minister for Health and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Aainullah Shams said after restoration of Bahawalpur and demarcation of the Saraiki province, new distribution of seats of the Senate of Pakistan would have to be done.
Minister Habibur Rehman Muhammad Hasni said Southern Punjab was deliberately kept underdeveloped and as a result, people of the area were forced to demand their own province.
Minister for Irrigation Sardar Aslam Bezinjo and Minister for Sports Mir Shahnawaz Marri said debate on new provinces was launched to divert the attention of the people from important issues.
Minister Zahoor Buledi said all mainstream political parties would have to reach a consensus to deal with the new province issue. He, however, said new provinces were the need of hour and would help resolve longstanding issues.
Ahsan Shah requested the chairman of the panel, Abdul Rehman Jamali and the mover to withdraw the resolution as there was very less number of lawmakers present in the House.
He said the resolution could be again moved in the House. After consultation, the mover withdrew the resolution. The chairman then adjourned the proceedings until Friday.
