Javed Hashmi urges political parties to amend constitution for creation of new provinces

President Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Javed Hashmi said the present constitution has no space for creation of new federating units, urging political parties to bring an amendment to the constitution in this regard.

Apparently the PTI appeared to have found common ground with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as far as the creation of new provinces is concerned.

While addressing a press conference the PTI leader observed, “If political leaders sincerely want to form new provinces, they will have to sit together for an amendment to the Constitution”.

The MQM proposed an amendment to the Article 239 (4) of the Constitution to empower the federal legislatures. The said article vested the provincial assemblies with the power to create new federating units.

However, the PTI wants to replicate India’s States Reorganization Commission to carve out new provinces in Pakistan.

Both the political parties despite difference appeared to have taken the same stance, which is to deprive the provincial assemblies of the right to make changes to their boundaries.

Javed Hashmi was of the opinion that the panel that will deal the reorganization or alteration of the provincial boundaries should be constituted at by the federation.

He, however, chose his words carefully to not give an impression that they support a Mohajir province in Sindh.  They opposed to Sindh’s division even though it supports new administrative provinces elsewhere in the country, he added.

The PTI president noted, “The PPP will frighten the electorate by warning that a Mohajir province will be formed if it is not voted back in power. And, the MQM will offer its voters the prospect of a separate province”.

Accusing the political parties in the government of fanning the flames of ethnicity through the issue of new federating units, he said a resolution tabled for Multan and Bahawalpur province has been approved by the Punjab Assembly with thumping majority.

In his view, both the PML-N and the PPP will have to bring a bill in parliament if they were sincere for creation of new provinces.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=25130

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jun 8 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.