Rumpus, walkouts and exchange of harsh words between leaders of various political parties were the hallmark of the debate on new provinces in the National Assembly on Thursday with major coalition partners – the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) legislators entering into verbal clashes while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) putting their weight behind the MQM, leaving ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan with no option but to lead a walkout in protest.
Verbal attacks against each other, strong responses and clashes between the emotionally-charged members were the order of the day in the National Assembly as the House debated creation of new provinces.
Same was the case with the opposition benches as JUI-F MNA Laiq Muhammad Khan and PML-N lawmaker Captain (r) Safdar, both from Hazara, entered into an argument for Hazara province and continued the verbal clash most of the proceedings. The PML-N members also rose from their seats and protested against the debate, saying the resolution could not be discussed as it was not on agenda list.
Meanwhile, PPP legislator Zafar Ali Shah and Najamuddin Khan also staged walkouts from the proceedings. Shah opposed debate on the pretext that it was prerogative of the provincial assemblies and this issue should not be taken up in the National Assembly while Najamuddin Khan walked out for not being allowed to speak for the creation of Malakand province.
MQM lawmakers also protested against the then chairman, Riaz Fatyana, for not allowing Najamuddin and some PML-Q members and allowing Captain Safdar of the PML-N to speak for half an hour.
Earlier, a dispute started on whether or not to start a debate on new provinces on a resolution submitted by MQM lawmakers. Asfandyar said since there was no bill or resolution moved in the House, no debate could be started. He argued that the debate was also not on the agenda. “I am not opposed to the discussion on new provinces. Please bring it to the agenda any day, we are willing to discuss it,” he added.
On the contrary, Haider Abbas Rizvi of the MQM reminded National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi that he had taken sense of the House on Tuesday and Thursday was fixed for debate on the resolution. Rana Tanvir of the PML-N opposed the debate on the resolution, stating that since the debate was on a resolution, it was not a part of the agenda. He said the mere lip service would not help the cause and practical steps were needed to redress grievances of the people. PPP leader Khurshid Shah also supported MQM’s views, saying since the chair had given its ruling, the House should start a debate over the new provinces. Shah said the House decided in unanimous voice to allow discussion over the issue. Leader of the Opposition in the NA Nisar Ali Khan said the party was not opposed to the new provinces and discussion on the issue.
He also questioned the role of deputy speaker for chairing the session and said the one who had personal, political or party interests in the issue, should not preside over the session during the discussion on the new provinces. Asfandyar said the assembly was run in accordance with the rules and regulations. “The matter is not the agenda and the session’s proceedings will come to an end when the last item on agenda is discussed,” he asserted. Due to the rumpus in the House, the deputy speaker suspended the session for 20 minutes and asked the treasury parties to evolve unanimity of views over the debate.
Later, the deputy speaker gave his ruling in favour of the debate and it started, resulting into a walkout by the ANP chief and his party legislators. Zafar Ali Shah also walked out against the debate. Opening the debate, parliamentary leader of MQM Dr Farooq Sattar congratulated the people of Southern Punjab and Hazara on initiation of debate in the Lower House for creation of new provinces and said the MQM’s resolution was being supported by the prime minister and the president. “The people of both Southern Punjab and Hazara division are suffering from sense of deprivation as their due rights and ownership of their resources has not being given. We want to create new provinces to prevent another making of the Bangladesh, the eastern part of the country before 1971. Balochistan-like situation in ignored and under-developed areas is developing and it could result in making those areas another East Pakistan,” he added.
He said creation of new provinces as Saraki, Hazara, Malakand and FATA would guarantee a strong Pakistan. He said a survey had revealed that people in 21 districts of Punjab wanted new provinces within Punjab while the people of two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, DI Khan and Tank also wanted to go with Saraiki province. He said the MQM would also table 20th constitutional amendment to pave the way for creation of new provinces and hoped that the parliamentarians of other parties would also support the resolution.
MQM has no political enough strength in the maximum part of the country they must care about karachi, a tsunami is awaiting for real big political change in the country, pTI
although i do not support MQM but at least they have brought up the issue in the assembly, rest are just talking about it, we need smaller units, people are demanding them !
This is a new exercise to break Pakistan. Its not a shot term thing but a long a term plan. It will take another 20 years and it will go like that .. First they will demand and make new Provinces in Punjab and KPW. MQM is supporting this to make Karachi and Hyderabad a new Province. After some year they will start showing grievances with Federal Govt.and will start a move for independent states. Karachi province will try to follow Dubai model and will get support from India. KPW will associate and merge with Pashtoon part of Afghanistan and with a new capital in Peshawar. The plan to break Pakistan is not new but its has been coming up in new forms.Given the neo geo-poltical order its becoming a serious thing for big powers of the world . Its very important for the west not to have one populated Muslim state that carries Nukes too and has a the habit of dealing with them as a arrogant proud child…
Pls pls develop this country as one .. stop fighting and take care for each other and raise your kids as Pakistanis not as Punjabi. Pashtoon, Bolach, Sindhi or Urdu speaking, or Sirakai, or Kashmiri, or Hazara oh my god this ethnic list is getting longer and longer :))))
So Whats wrong if Karachi and Hyderabad be made a new province? If other citizens of Pakistan can demand why not they can demand a province ?
Are not they Pakistani ?
Came out of this mentality that some people are more Pakistani than other. All Pakistani citizens should be treated equally.
And for your information do read news before commenting, MQM demanding province on administrative basis its ANP who said that provinces should be made on linguistic and ethnic basis. Your comments lonly had criticized MQM and not a single time you mention ANP. What a double standard you have 🙂
Administrative structured provinces are welcomed not ethnic based!!!
MQM is just trying to prepare grounds for dividing Sindh to claim a separate province carved out in Sindh, where they can finally rule unobstructed in their long battle for turf. This party has no representative authority or moral authority to talk about KP or Punjab. Why is it silent on the issue of target killings in Sindh, the water issue, law and order, the energy shortfall crippling our industry and massive corruption within federal government and provincial Sindh Govt, of which it is a vital part of. Where are the sympathies of MQM, when wheels of industry are being grinded to a halt in KP, Central Punjab and South Punjab by the discriminatory gas and electricity shortages.
haha 🙂 Tariq sahab, Just can laugh on you. whats wrong if Sindh be divided and some new provinces are made on administrative basis ? If you are talking about Karachi, do you have any authority or moral authority to talk about it ? How someone can this authority who is the authority that issue certificates of authority :).
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