MQM plays trump card to extend political sway beyond Sindh

MQM plays trump card to extend political sway beyond Sindh

In an apparent bid to spread its political reach beyond Sindh, the MQM Monday introduced the 20^th constitutional amendment in the parliament for the formation of new provinces.

The party tabled two resolutions in Senate for making Hazara a separate province and carving out province or provinces out of South Punjab. The MQM is the first political party that moved with a proposal of a constitutional amendment for new provinces.

Addressing a news conference with other party leaders, MQM parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Dr. Farooq Sattar said that creation of new provinces was a longstanding demand.

“The new provinces are the need of the hour to remove the sense of deprivation among the people of these areas,” he stated.

He warned of a Balochistan-like situation in the areas if the provinces of Hazara and southern Punjab are not immediately created. The MQM in its draft of the 20^th constitutional amendment, purposed amending articles 1, 39, 51
and 106 of the Constitution, he maintained.

The bill suggests referendum in Southern Punjab on the point if there should be one or two provinces. The bill also calls for abolishing a sub-clause of Article 239 of the Constitution, while suggesting amends in Article 1.

The amendment further says that names of Hazara and South Punjab be added to the Clause two of Article 1 of the Constitution after declaring them separate provinces. “Same action should be repeated in clause three of article 51,” it said.

Sattar said that the constitutional requirements of getting approval by the province for the formation of new province are removed by amending clause four of article 39.

“All the provinces have equal representation in the Senate so there is no need to have an approval from the province for a new one,” he maintained.

The amendment pertaining to province or provinces in South Punjab stated that province/provinces should be made on the basis of districts or divisions. It adds that their names should be selected according to the opinion of the people.

Sattar said formation of Hazarawal province was simple and easier than South Punjab. “Six districts include Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohistan, Batagram and Toorgar be merged into Hazara province,” he added.

To a question, the MQM leader said that seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of new province will be reserved according to population of the area.

He said that MQM would also bring 21st amendment for rights of the people of FATA, adding that special campaign would also be launched for formation of FATA as a separate province.

“We have already assured FATA parliamentarians to support their demand of separate province,” he maintained. He stated that Pakistan had been liberated from the British 1947 and now MQM would liberate the country form black skins.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 3 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry