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			<title>The great debate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/784622/the-great-debate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/784622/the-great-debate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Nov 14 20:23:41 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=784622</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[We could, for administrative convenience, set up local governments after due elections]]>
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				<![CDATA[Assuming that the debate is a serious attempt at resolving a contentious issue, we see definite logic both in the demand for and against new provinces in Sindh. That perhaps, is the main reason why the contending parties continue to find it impossible to consider with an open mind the for- and-against arguments of each other. It would certainly be impossible not to recognise Sindh’s urban-rural diversity hyphenated by the quota system introduced in the early 1970s to protect the locals from being completely marginalised in government jobs by the more educated migrants from India. It would not be out of place here to take a quick tour of the province’s history. Sindh’s capital since 1840, Karachi became Pakistan’s capital in 1947, marking the beginning of a visible drift between the port city and the rest of the province in terms of culture, language and ethnicity. The drift continued even after the capital was shifted to Islamabad in the early 1960s. Meanwhile, the formation of One Unit in 1954 had reduced Sindh, along with the other two smaller provinces of Pakistan, to what many people perceived were ‘colonies’ of Punjab, with Lahore becoming the seat of West Pakistan government and Karachi its commercial hub.

It was only when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the prime minister of Pakistan in the early 1970s that Sindh found itself being lifted out of its ‘colonial’ depths. Though Karachi was restored as the capital of Sindh when One Unit was dissolved in July 1970, the drift that had been caused between the city and the province in 1947 only kept growing with the former becoming one of world’s largest cities, whose population was estimated to be galloping at the rate five per cent per annum because of heightened influx into the city from all over the country. It not only had the largest population of settlers from India, but also became the largest Pakhtun city in the world. Nicknamed as mini-Pakistan, it had assumed a cultural character totally different from the other parts of the province. Not only a commercial hub, it was also leading the country in almost all spheres of life.

On the other hand, by the time the Sindh-based PPP came to power in the early 1970s, the rest of the province had drifted in the opposite direction, mostly because of sheer neglect. The cultural, ethnic and linguistic differences between urban and rural Sindh justifies the demand of the MQM for restructuring Sindh into two provinces. On the other hand, the historic link between the city and the province, plus the principle of unity in diversity, equally justifies opposition of the PPP and other Sindhi nationalist parties to any tinkering with the provincial structure. Also, the constitutional Clause 4 of Article 239 seems at the moment to favour the latter as the former does not have the required number of votes (two-thirds) in the Sindh Assembly to get its demand approved.

The same constitutional hurdle for the same reasons has frustrated the demand for creating more provinces in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. As long as those who are demanding the restructuring of their provinces on ethnic, linguistic and cultural lines do not muster the required number of votes, the four provincial units of Pakistan are likely to remain intact. However, there is an urgent need to restructure the entire country into manageable administrative units as the population of Pakistan has almost tripled since independence.

Here, it must be taken into account that more provinces would mean more expenditure as each province will require its own elected assembly, a cabinet, a chief minister, a governor and provincial civil and police officers. Instead, while a political consensus is being sought on how best to tackle the issue of the demand for more provinces, we could, for administrative convenience, set up local governments after due elections. However, before we hold these elections, we need to hold a national census, conduct fresh delimitation of constituencies and introduce an agreed package of electoral reforms.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2014.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Fear factor</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/781996/fear-factor</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/781996/fear-factor#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 14 18:45:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Lt Gen (Retd) Ghulam Mustafa]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=781996</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Danger lies in politicising everything within reach; some things even beyond. This is not fear, but an ugly reality]]>
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				<![CDATA[Fear is the cheapest and one of the most effective weapons employed by almost everyone in every conceivable field. Terrorists have taken this phenomenon to new heights in the last 50 years or so. But it is modern-day politicians, who have given a whole new meaning to this exercise. Engendering fear is now an art, being practised the world over in very subtle variations and with great finesse. The reason given to invade Iraq in 1990 by Western powers is a pretty good example. The reason to repeat the exercise yet again was a masterpiece. Subsequently, all the reasons given were proved wrong, but the damage was done. However, the best example of this phenomenon can be seen after the 9/11 attacks. As explained by Michael Moore in his book Stupid White Men, Americans were browbeaten into accepting laws passed to ensure ‘homeland security’, as well as the killings of hundreds of thousands of innocent Afghans, by employing fear as the ultimate argument.

Not to be outdone, some of us in Pakistan have done wonders in this arena so far. The logic behind or the consequences of uttering doomsday warnings is not considered here. The latest issue that has come up in this regard is the one about creating more provinces. There are those, according to whom, it is vital that Sindh is split into more provinces. The response given by the ruling party of Sindh is even more interesting. The PPP’s co-chairperson declared that Pakistan is fine as it is and that any subdivision of Sindh will destroy Pakistan. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari went a step ahead and said in no uncertain terms that death was preferable than the division of Sindh. Surely, we have not forgotten that it was the PPP, which spearheaded the campaign for the creation of Seraiki and Hazara provinces just before the last general elections. Ironically, non-acceptance of the demand for more provinces was also linked to the dismemberment of Pakistan. Does this somersault by the PPP make any sense? Is all this just politics or is there a greater scheme at work?

Then there is another group, which is doing its very best to convince us that Balochistan is close to breaking away from Pakistan unless something is done on emergency basis. In the next breath, this group equates Balochistan with the erstwhile East Pakistan. Occasionally, the media also joins in and then all hell breaks loose. I wonder how many of these fine gentlemen have even visited the province, or if they have done so, have stepped out of Quetta. I also wonder if anyone has ever stopped to ponder over the fate of all the money given to Balochistan so far. One ex-chief minister was very forthright about it. According to him, one year the province got Rs45 billion. All this money was distributed equally among 45 Baloch parliamentarians for ‘development’. There is no doubt that Bolochistan lags far behind other provinces and that the majority of Balochis in parts of the province are extremely poor. But our diagnosis of the issues facing it is skewed. The fear so created does, however, benefit its perpetrators. And now we get lectured day in and day out about democracy being seriously threatened. It is very conveniently forgotten that people harping on about democracy these days are only worried about their petty self-interests and that the Constitution they refer to is often what gives them a stranglehold on our lives. Whoever said that the constitution must serve the country and its people and that it must be dynamic enough to meet future challenges, needs to be confronted by these champions of democracy. The fear factor is built around two key elements: 1) that Pakistan is very fragile; 2) the simplest of causes, like making more provinces for administrative reasons, not catering to the whims of a few chosen ones in Balochistan, or improving the Constitution for its largest stakeholders, can lead to the country’s destruction. Some also add the construction of Kalabagh Dam in the same category.

Does anyone remember the propaganda blitz of the late 1960s when most of us in this part of the country were convinced that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s six-point agenda was, in fact, a conspiracy to break up Pakistan? Unfortunately, Pakistan did break up, over those very six points, but not because of them. It would be very interesting if we were to examine those six points in the light of the Eighteenth Amendment. We might come to the conclusion that perhaps, their acceptance in some form could have charted another, more progressive course for Pakistan.

Our perceptual biases need a reality check now and then. If nothing else, the ongoing political unrest should have opened our eyes to this single-most important lesson. We see some of the leading lights of the Balochistan cause singing to a different tune now that their needs, not those of the people, have been addressed adequately. We also find that democracy, if at all, is threatened more by the incompetence of our democrats rather than anything else. People also appear to have accepted the need to take our Constitution beyond the twenty amendments introduced, solely due to very limited and often very selfish reasons. Creation of more provinces on administrative grounds may not affect Pakistan negatively. Unfortunately, like the Kalabagh Dam, we have changed the basic premise behind each of these issues and now, the discussion has degenerated into petty politics once again.

The danger lies in politicising everything within reach, and some things even beyond. This is not fear, but an ugly reality.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2014.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>New provinces: Where’s NA resolution on parliamentary commission, asks LHC</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/521513/new-provinces-wheres-na-resolution-on-parliamentary-commission-asks-lhc</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/521513/new-provinces-wheres-na-resolution-on-parliamentary-commission-asks-lhc#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 13 21:40:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=521513</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Judge says prima facie commission’s formation was illegal.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the Lahore High Court on Friday directed the government to produce the National Assembly’s resolution for the constitution of a parliamentary commission for the creation of new provinces.


While hearing several petitions against the formation of the commission and the proposed creation of Bahawalpur Southern Punjab province, Justice Khan said it appeared highly unlikely that the assembly had passed a resolution for the formation of the commission.

He said prima facie, the commission’s formation was illegal and without lawful authority.

A deputy attorney general, Nasim Kashmiri, said the resolution was part of the assembly’s internal proceedings and could not be made public.

He added that the question of the commission’s legal status would become ineffective if the assembly passed a bill to this effect.

Kashmiri then sought time to seek instructions from the government and Justice Khan adjourned the hearing till April 2.

Earlier the petitioners’ counsel had argued that neither the Constitution nor rules of business allowed the National Assembly speaker to form a commission for the creation of new provinces. He said the assembly did not have the mandate to create new provinces and that the commission’s proceedings were mala fide.

He said the National Assembly speaker had acted beyond her jurisdiction while constituting the commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Bahawalpur South Punjab: New province bill sails through the Senate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/517000/bahawalpur-south-punjab-new-province-bill-sails-through-the-senate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/517000/bahawalpur-south-punjab-new-province-bill-sails-through-the-senate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 13 22:00:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=517000</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PML-N, National Party stage walkouts; MQM supports the bill.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The government triumphed in its attempt to pass the new province bill (24th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2013) in the Senate on Wednesday, bringing it one step closer to the creation of a new province in Punjab.


The bill, which must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament and approved also by Punjab Assembly before the president can sign it into law, smoothly sailed through the upper house – just days before National and the provincial assemblies complete their constitutional terms.

Be that as it may, the victory in the Senate is merely half the battle since the toughest legs for the bill lie ahead with stiff resistance expected in the National Assembly, where the government does not have the required two-thirds majority.  If passed by the National Assembly, the bill will then be tabled in the Punjab Assembly.



It was not all smooth sailing during Wednesday’s proceedings. As expected, members belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), National Party (NP) and an independent senator from south Punjab, Mohsin Leghari staged walkouts to protest what they called a “political stunt” to lure voters in the upcoming polls.

“It [24th Amendment] is nothing but a political drama for 2013 general elections,” said Senator Ishaq Dar, adding that even though he is leader of the opposition in the Senate he was never approached for consultation on the issue.

Senator Mohsin Leghari argued that there was no constitutional provision for the creation of a new province. “If you want to carve a new province in Punjab then you will have to amend the Constitution first. Article239 only refers to the alteration of any province, which means that boundaries of any province could be altered but no new province can be created,” said Leghari.

PML-Q Senator Mushahid Hussain advised the government to be cautious while making decisions on the creation of a new province. “We should not open a Pandora’s box, whose consequences cannot be controlled later,” said Hussain.

“When you [government] cannot create new provinces then why you are playing politics with innocent people,” said National Party Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo.

In defence of the bill, Senator Farhatullah Babar, who was also the chairman of the new provinces commission, said the government’s move was a conscious and deliberate political initiative to address the genuine grievances and deprivations of the people of south Punjab.



“It is the right time to decide on a separate province. A decision delayed is not a problem avoided, it is a crisis invited,” said Babar.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement was the only opposition party which supported the bill while lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Awami National Party and Balochistan National Party-Awami cast their votes in favour of the bill tabled by Law Minister Farooq H Naek.

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl were not present during voting when 70 out of the 104 senators cast their vote in favour of the constitutional amendment.

The Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Bill, 2013, which provides for the establishment of a Defense Housing Authority in Islamabad, was also passed in Senate on Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>New provinces: ‘President overstepped his mandate’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/516303/new-provinces-president-overstepped-his-mandate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/516303/new-provinces-president-overstepped-his-mandate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 13 20:27:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=516303</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[“The president overstepped his mandate as there was no bill pending in the Assembly,” says petitioner's counsel.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Additional Attorney General Abdul Hayee Gilani on Tuesday failed to produce a copy of the parliament’s resolution for forming a commission for the creation of a new province.


Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan said it seemed that no such resolution had been passed at all. The court then directed the counsel to complete their arguments at the hearing on March 7.

Justice Khan had directed Gilani on March 1 to produce the resolution.

Instead, Gilani produced a letter written by a National Assembly deputy secretary stating the message received from President Zardari regarding the constitution of the commission.

It had been read out in the Assembly in July 2012 under rule-67 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in NA, 2007.

Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah had then proposed that a commission be set up. The speaker was authorised to constitute the commission considering the proposal was not opposed, the letter read. The letter added that Assembly proceedings were an internal matter of the parliament and were protected.

The petitioners had challenged the formation of the parliamentary commission which has recommended the creation of a Bahawalpur-Southern Punjab province and the inclusion of Mianwali district in the new province.

“No such resolution was passed. Otherwise, it could have been produced before the court,” lawyer for the petitioner argued.

Justice Khan observed that while under Article-69, NAs proceedings could be kept secret, it was necessary to produce the resolution passed on the matter.

The petitioners’ lawyer said the president could send a message under Article-56(2) of the Constitution when a bill was pending, but had no authority to direct the parliament.

“The president overstepped his mandate as there was no bill pending in the Assembly,” the lawyer said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>BJP province: ‘Parliament should not overstep its mandate’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/514545/bjp-province-parliament-should-not-overstep-its-mandate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/514545/bjp-province-parliament-should-not-overstep-its-mandate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Mar 13 21:01:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=514545</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[LHC asks for parliamentary resolution on the new province.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan of The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed Additional Attorney General Abdul Hayee Gilani to produce a copy of the parliamentary resolution on the formation of a new province in the Punjab for court’s record.


Justice Khan was hearing several petitions against the formation of a parliamentary commission which has recommended the creation of a Bahawalpur South Punjab province.

Gilani said the parliament had the mandate to create the commission.

Counsel for the petitioner, Muhammad Azhar Siddique, said the parliament could not disregard the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. The formation of the commission was illegal and unconstitutional, he said.

The speaker is only allowed to form parliamentary committees, not commissions to carve new provinces, Siddique said.

Justice Khan observed that the parliament could not be allowed to overstep its mandate and must work within Constitutional parameters.



Gilani said a draft bill had been forwarded to the Senate for approval.

He said the petitioners could challenge it when it became law.

Siddique argued that the Supreme Court had set precedence in the Hasba Bill case, showing it could act when a bill violating fundamental rights was introduced. The National Assembly’s resolution on the matter came after the commission was constituted so it has no legal grounding, he said.

The court adjourned the hearing till March 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Another Province: Federation issued notice on petition</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/513948/another-province-federation-issued-notice-on-petition</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/513948/another-province-federation-issued-notice-on-petition#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 13 19:02:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=513948</guid>
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				<![CDATA[The new petition says Bhakkar residents are not willing to join the new province.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notice to the federation of Pakistan on a petition challenging the report of a parliamentary commission to form another province.


The court scheduled further hearing on the petition for Friday (today) along with other petitions on the same issue. Three petitions of a similar nature are already pending before the court.

The new petition, filed by Advocate Muneer Chohan of Bhakkar district, said Bhakkar residents were not willing to join the new province. The lawyer said any decision regarding the formation of another province lacked legal authority without proper representation from elected representatives of Bhakkar and Mianwali.

He said the parliamentary commission formed in this regard was illegal and unconstitutional. Chohan said there was no provision in the Constitution for creating another province.

According to the Article 239(1) of the Constitution, the lawyer said, provincial boundaries can be altered but no new province can be made.

He prayed the court to declare the commission and its report illegal and unconstitutional.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2013.]]>
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			<title>New provinces: LHC denies stay on commission report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/512547/new-provinces-lhc-denies-stay-on-commission-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/512547/new-provinces-lhc-denies-stay-on-commission-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 13 19:01:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=512547</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Hearing adjourned till March 1 as deputy attorney general absent.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the Lahore High Court on Monday turned down the request for a stay order on the report of the parliamentary commission for the formation of a Bahawalpur-South Punjab province and adjourned the hearing for March 1.


Deputy Attorney General Abdul Hayee Gilani, representing the Federation, did not turn up before the court on Monday. Petitioner Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique asked the court to issue a stay order on the commission’s report, if any, for the formation of the new province. The judge denied the request, saying that it would be considered at the next hearing.

The petitioner has challenged the formation of the parliamentary commission and its recommendation for the inclusion of Mianwali district in the proposed Bahawalpur-South Punjab province.

At the previous hearing, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the commission was constituted illegally by the president through a letter to the deputy speaker of the National Assembly.

The petitioner contends that the National Assembly speaker is not authorised to form a commission on the subject of new provinces, and that the inclusion of Mianwali in the proposed province is against the will of local citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab: Senate panel fails to take up new province bill</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507149/bahawalpur-janoobi-punjab-senate-panel-fails-to-take-up-new-province-bill</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507149/bahawalpur-janoobi-punjab-senate-panel-fails-to-take-up-new-province-bill#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 13 05:10:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Committee members from PPP and MQM did not attend the meeting.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice assigned to discuss a proposed constitutional bill, seeking the creation of Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab province, failed to make any headway in its maiden meeting on Wednesday further complicating the fate of the newly proposed contentious amendment.


Committee members from the PPP and MQM did not attend the meeting despite the fact that the ruling party has been vocal for the cause of the Province.

Two of the 12-member Senate Panel forced the committee chairman Senator Kazim Khan of the PPP to postpone the scheduled meeting for indefinite period. Senators Raja Zafarul Haq and Zaffar Ali Shah of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, who attended the meeting, termed it a failure of the government, which, according to them, was playing politics on the serious constitutional matter.

Last week, the government amid strong protest by the opposition and reservations of some of its own allies tabled the 24th constitutional amendment bill to the Upper House of Parliament,  which was later referred to the Senate Law Panel for further deliberations. Law Minister Farooq H Naek moved the proposed bill in the Senate. The panel was tasked to send its recommendations back to the House this week.

“The government failed to develop consensus even among its own members [of the committee] on this controversial bill,” observed Senator Raja Zafarul Haq. Talking to The Express Tribune, he said, the PML-N has already rejected the report prepared by the commission on creation of new provinces. Further decision either to attend the Senate panel’s meeting or not will be taken by the top leadership of the party next week, he added.



The PML-N, the largest opposition both in Senate and National Assembly, has already rejected PPP’s move to carve new provinces in Punjab by terming it a political stunt as general elections are around the corner.

Three members of the committee, Senators Muzafar Hussain Shah of PML-Functional, Farogh Nasim of MQM and Ahmed Hassan of PPP told The Express Tribune that they could not attend the meeting due to some personal engagements.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>‘New provinces not the way the PPP wants’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/505122/new-provinces-not-the-way-the-ppp-wants</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/505122/new-provinces-not-the-way-the-ppp-wants#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 13 22:13:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=505122</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PML-N Senator says it is the PPP's which are not letting new provinces to be created.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The federation has no right to decide the boundaries and division of a province, said Sirdar Zulfiqar Khosa, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator.


He was addressing a press conference on Saturday at Khosa House in Dera Ghazi Khan.

“There will be new provinces in the Punjab but not the way the Pakistan Peoples Party wants,” he said. New provinces, said Khosa, could not be created based on arbitrary decisions taken at the spur of moment. Such decisions always leave people with grievances, he said.

The way PPP is handling the matter, Khosa said, more people will demand new provinces for flimsy reasons.

He said that the federation had shown “hypocrisy” on the issue of creation of new provinces, adding that it had not taken into consideration the suggestions and recommendations put forth by the Punjab government.

The Punjab Assembly passed a unanimous resolution 13 months ago, he said, which envisaged the creation of two new provinces in the Punjab.

The resolution was sent to the National Assembly but was not discussed even once, Khosa added.

He rejected statements by some PPP leaders who said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was creating hurdles in the creation of new provinces, adding that it was indeed PPP’s allies who were not letting new provinces to be created.

He criticised the PPP for “playing the politics of revenge by separating my son from me”.

“This is the real face of their ‘politics of reconciliation’,” added Khosa.

He then reproached his son for violating Baloch tradition of tribal piety.

“I feel pity for my son,” he said, “who joined a party only for a ticket...a party which has been condemned as most corrupt.”

Talking about development projects in Dera Ghazi Khan district, he said that the Punjab government had so far provided Rs11.7 billion.

Khosa was accompanied by other PML-N parliamentarians from Dera Ghazi Khan division, including Dost Khosa, Hasaamuddin Khosa and Mir Badshah Qasierani.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Bahawalpur South Punjab: New province debate enters Parliament</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/504838/bahawalpur-south-punjab-new-province-debate-enters-parliament</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/504838/bahawalpur-south-punjab-new-province-debate-enters-parliament#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Feb 13 22:19:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=504838</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[24th constitutional amendment bill tabled in Senate in a session marred by walkouts.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The government introduced the 24th constitutional amendment bill in the Senate on Friday, seeking bifurcation of Punjab through the creation of a ‘Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab’ province.


But the move did not sit well with opposition lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who left the proceedings in a huff. The move also agitated the government’s allies, who have reservations over the bill.

The bill was tabled by Law Minister Farooq H Naek, apparently against the rules of business, as it was not on the day’s agenda.

“I know you are going to cut Punjab into pieces, but at least follow the rules by including it on the agenda,” said PML-N Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah before staging a walkout from the house.

Be that as it may, the bill has been sent to the bipartisan standing committee, which will debate and send it back within 10 days to put it to vote in the upper house of Parliament. If the government manages to approve the bill in the committee, a final showdown will be on the floor of the House. The government needs 69 ‘ayes’ in the 104-member house.

Without PML-N, which has a sizeable number in the National Assembly, it will be almost impossible for the government to pass any such amendment. Even if it is passed by both the houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority, the bill will have to be passed by the Punjab Assembly, where the PML-N is the ruling party, before it could be signed into law by the president.



According to election commission figures, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has 41 members in the Senate, PML-N has 14, ANP has 12, PML-Q has five, MQM has seven, JUI-F has seven, while National Party and PML-F have one each, while there are 12 independents.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, government allies MQM and PML-Q confirmed that they were ready to support the bill if it was put to vote. On the other hand, ANP and BNP-Awami vowed to oppose the bill. Independent lawmakers, mostly from FATA, are divided over the issue.  In the current scenario, the government could get around 53 ‘ayes’ while it would need another 16 votes either by cajoling dissenting allies or winning over FATA members to secure the required numbers.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Ishaq Dar also objected to the tabling of the bill, saying the government had not done proper homework before making the move. “This drama is on the basis of a flimsy report of the commission [on new provinces, headed by Senator Farhatullah Babar]. It is not the solution to any problem,” he said. “The commission did not address any important issue, including the distribution of water, assets and debts of the province. These key issues need to be addressed before bringing forth an amendment.”

Chairman Nayyar Bokhari said all these reservations should be discussed at the committee’s meeting and that there was enough time for brainstorming.

Additionally, the chairman referred the bill to the concerned committee for further discussion. He directed the committee to present its report within 10 days.

Other walk outs

Senators belonging to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman) also walked out of the house, protesting against the enforcement of governor’s rule in Balochistan.

Separately, PPP Senator Raza Rabbani also walked out. He was incensed by the attitude of the Senate Secretariat which did not present the report on missing persons, prepared by the special parliamentary committee.

To this, Chairman Bokhari said he would examine the issue and find out why the report was not presented.

“You should not only examine the issue but also direct the secretariat to present the report immediately. I am walking out of the house against this attitude,” said Senator Rabbani.

Senator Dar said the report had already been tabled in the National Assembly, and said there was no harm in presenting in the upper house. “This is in contempt of the committee and of this august house,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Plea against parliamentary panel: Federal govt challenges LHC’s jurisdiction</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/502718/plea-against-parliamentary-panel-federal-govt-challenges-lhcs-jurisdiction</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/502718/plea-against-parliamentary-panel-federal-govt-challenges-lhcs-jurisdiction#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Feb 13 05:25:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=502718</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Petitioners claim Mianwali residents against inclusion in new province.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Faced with legal opposition to the Bahawalpur South Punjab province proposal, the federal government launched an offensive on Monday by challenging the jurisdiction of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to hear petitions against the parliamentary commission.


Additional Attorney General Abdul Hayee Gillani intervened during the hearing by Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan by arguing that the LHC must first decide if it was constitutionally empowered to interfere in the internal mechanisms of parliament.

The court adjourned the hearing till February 6, pending new arguments on the matter of the court’s jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Gillani was also asked to produce relevant record pertaining to the formation of the parliamentary commission, including notification of the National Assembly speaker and the final recommendations of the parliamentary commission.

Several petitioners had earlier challenged the validity of the parliamentary commission to propose a new province by stating that rules of business did not allow the speaker to notify a committee to look into the formation of new provinces. The petition argued that Article 239 of the Constitution empowered parliament to change geographical limits of provinces, but not create new ones.

Similarly, the petitions argued that Mianwali district had been added to Bahawalpur South Punjab against the wishes of its residents and that the demonstrations against the new plan could escalate if the government went ahead with the proposed province.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Political manoeuvring: PPP courts MQM, JUI-F for Bahawalpur South Punjab</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/502328/political-manoeuvring-ppp-courts-mqm-jui-f-for-bahawalpur-south-punjab</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/502328/political-manoeuvring-ppp-courts-mqm-jui-f-for-bahawalpur-south-punjab#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 13 04:17:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=502328</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Offers to meet the two parties’ demands regarding dual nationality bill, governor’s rule in Balochistan.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is seeking the support of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) for the Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab (BJP) provinces, The Express Tribune has learned.


According to credible sources, the ruling party has offered to meet the two parties’ demands regarding the dual nationality bill and governor’s rule in Balochistan – MQM wants the dual nationality bill passed at all cost while JUI-F demands the restoration of the Balochistan Assembly and an end to governor’s rule in the province. They said PPP MNA Khursheed Shah is engaged in talks with both parties in this regard.



Reportedly PPP is close to reaching consensus with JUI-F with regards to their demands. The sources claimed this had been the reason for postponing the joint parliamentary session to validate governor’s rule in Balochistan. According to article 234(3) of the Constitution, the proclamation of a state of emergency must be validated by the Parliament.

Sources alleged the reason behind JUI-F’s demand for restoring the Balochistan Assembly were certain development funds, frozen after governor’s rule had been imposed. They claimed the party needed funds in order to contest the upcoming elections. PPP’s decision to postpone the joint sitting of the parliament was part of a deal with JUI-F, they added, saying the latter would support the bill to create the new province in exchange.



According to reports, JUI-F’s Maulana Shirani has forwarded a detailed proposal for restoring the Balochistan Assembly to PPP. Reportedly, the politico-religious party has asked for the chief minister’s slot in the revamped provincial government. JUI-F senior leader Ghafoor Haideri could not be contacted for confirmation.

At the same time, PPP’s talks with MQM are still in progress, according to sources in the party. In addition to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Awami National Party (ANP) and JUI-F have expressed opposition towards the dual nationality bill as well. The sources said PPP leadership has asked their MQM counterparts to at least win support from JUI-F in this regard or suggest an alternative to get the bill passed by the parliament. The ruling party has also asked MQM to try to get ANP to support the bill as well.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain recently held talks with ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and JUI-F head Maulana Fazlur Rehman in this regard.

While PPP’s central information secretary could not be reached, the party’s Punjab spokesperson Shaukat Mehmood Basra said that both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf have assured him that the bill for creating the province will be successfully adopted in parliament.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Saraiki province: Parties protest exclusion of Tank, DI Khan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501522/saraiki-province-parties-protest-exclusion-of-tank-di-khan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501522/saraiki-province-parties-protest-exclusion-of-tank-di-khan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 13 23:30:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=501522</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Dub it an attack on their cultural and linguistic identity.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Infuriated over the exclusion of two districts from the proposed plan of a new district, the Saraiki Parties Alliance held a protest on Friday. They maintained that not including Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts in the proposed province was akin to discrimination.


The protesters marched from the town hall in DI Khan to the famous Topan Wala Chowk, where they blocked the circular road, suspending traffic for two hours. They held placards and banners inscribed with the demand to include the two districts in the proposed province.

They set on fire an effigy of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam head Fazlur Rehman, dubbing him the main culprit.

The head of Saraikistan Qaumi Movement Shahid Atta Kahayarah stated that the Saraiki people have distinct culture, language, history, and will not live under the Pakhtun-dominated rule of Peshawar.

Dubbing the rulers “Takhtha Peshawar”, he accused them of exploiting the resources of the Saraiki people, which the locals will not accept at any cost.

Leaders of different Saraiki nationalist parties addressed the gathering and threatened countrywide strike if their demands were not accepted.

The strike was mainly observed in areas dominated by the Saraiki people while the areas where the Pakhtuns have established businesses, remained open.

On Thursday, a meeting of all the Saraiki parties was held in DI Khan. Representatives of various Saraiki nationalist parties unanimously decided to continue the struggle for the inclusion of the two district into the proposed province.

The participants rejected the Saraiki Sooba Commission, terming its recommendations of “Bahawalpur Janubi Punjab” province as unconstitutional.

They demanded to abolish the title and establish a new province named ‘Sooba Saraikistan” with the inclusion of Tank and DI Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2013.

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			<title>High drama: Lower house up in arms over new provinces report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501612/high-drama-lower-house-up-in-arms-over-new-provinces-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501612/high-drama-lower-house-up-in-arms-over-new-provinces-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 13 22:09:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[umer.nangiana]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=501612</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PML-N, PML-Q MNAs rip up commission report, stage walkout.]]>
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				<![CDATA[What started as MQM and JUI-F members drawing the legislature’s attention to a ‘burning Karachi’ and demanding a briefing from the federal government, ended with PML-N and PML-Q members tearing up the report of the commission for new provinces in Punjab and walking out.


Opposition in the eventful session of the National Assembly on Friday, lasting only 30 minutes, caused an uproar the moment Member of the National Assembly Arif Aziz Sheikh submitted the parliamentary commission on new provinces’ report.

“Mianwali can never be included in South Punjab. We reject this report. This report is in violation of Punjab Assembly’s resolutions. We reject it,” said PML-N MNA Humair Hayat Rokhri, before tearing the report into pieces.

“We (Mianwali) are located in the province’s north western part,” Rokhri claimed, before walking out in protest and saying the report would be rejected in the Punjab Assembly.

“This act is a violation of the rules of the house,” was MNA Nadeem Afzal Chan’s reaction to Rokhri ripping up the report. Chan was conducting the proceedings in place of the National Assembly speaker.

Besides Rokhri, Chan only allowed PML-N MNA Zafar Ali Shah to speak, who also rejected the report.

Sardar Shah Jahan of PML-Q and Laiq Muhammad Khan of JUI-F from Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) joined Rokhri and other PML-N MNAs in protest against the report for leaving out their region and staged a walkout. Jahan said his party colleague Kamil Ali Agha had already given his ‘note of reservation’ over the commission’s inability to discuss the creation of a Hazara province in K-P.

Munir Orakzai from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) also walked out. “The report in its contents nowhere mentions Fata as a prospective new province. All Fata members would reject this report,” Orakzai claimed.

Privilege motion

Following the NA session, Leader of the Opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, submitted a privilege motion in the assembly secretariat against the commission’s report.

The motion, signed by 90 PML-N MNAs, maintained that it breached the privilege of the house as it violated their parliamentary prerogative of representation in the commission. The commission was constituted against the presidential reference only by the NA Speaker and did not include the members who were stakeholders, it added.

“The commission should have included experts with knowhow on the matters of provinces’ division, besides those who were directly the stakeholders like people from central and north Punjab,” PML-N MNA-N Anusha Rehman told The Express Tribune. 

PML-Q’s note of reservation

A member of the commission, PML-Q Senator Kamil Ali Agha signed the report with his note of reservation, in which he maintained that the commission failed to consider his party’s demand to acquire a mandate for the creation of Hazara province.

“Our resolution of the Hazara province was pending in the National Assembly and I repeatedly asked the commission to acquire necessary powers from the prime minister and the president to forward the resolution to the K-P Assembly for further action but it was not done,” Agha stated in his note.

ANP’s note of reservation

Awami National Party’s Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel maintained in his note that members of the Punjab Assembly, particularly those from the three districts of Bahawalpur, Mianwali and Bhakkar should have been invited to express their views on the issue.

He added that the mandate of the commission was clear and was limited only to the division of Punjab. “Any other suggestion about the division of any other province was clearly beyond its mandate,” he said.

Demarcation

The commission report presented three models for the division of Punjab.

However, it suggested that the “province may comprise three existing divisions of Punjab namely Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions and the two districts of Mianwali and Bahawalpur.”

The reason to include the two districts was that various factors, including feelings of deprivation, under-development, geographical contiguity, administrative needs, social homogeneity and water resources laid the basis for their inclusion in the proposed province.

Distribution of resources

The commission noted that constitutional provisions existed to determine the distribution of resources between the provinces. These were Articles 153, 154 and 155 relating to the Council of Common Interest (CCI) which was further strengthened by the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

It said that the Water Accord, 1991 may have to be revised to provide for the share of the new province of Bahawalpur South Punjab. “Article 155 (1) of the Constitution further provides the mechanism for addressing disputes in water issues.”

Articles 156 and 160 were quoted as dealing with economic and financial matters arising from carving up Punjab.

Walkouts over Karachi, Balochistan

Earlier, some PML-N and JUI-F members walked out of the NA session over the continuing violence in Karachi and governor’s rule in Balochistan.

MNAs Birjees Tahir and Asia Nasir demanded that Interior Minister Rehman Malik be summoned before the house for a briefing on the steps being taken by the government to improve the city’s law and order situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2013.]]>
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			<title>‘Unacceptable’ Proposal: PML-N women rally against BSP proposal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501481/unacceptable-proposal-pml-n-women-rally-against-bsp-proposal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501481/unacceptable-proposal-pml-n-women-rally-against-bsp-proposal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 13 20:49:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[owais.jafri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=501481</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[More than 30 women carried placards and banners and shouted slogans against proposed Bahawalpur-South Punjab province]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The women’s wing of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz in the district organised a protest on Friday against the proposal for a new province called Bahawalpur-South Punjab (BSP). 


The protesting women parliamentarians gathered at the house of Sultana Shaheen, special advisor to the chief minister. They then marched to Public Square 9 after crossing Public Square 8.

The more than 30 women carried placards and banners and shouted slogans against the proposed Bahawalpur-South Punjab province with Bahawalpur as its capital.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Shaheed said that the people of Multan did not want to be part of the Bahawalpur province. They want their separate identity, she said.

“Multan can never be part of a Bahawalpur province. The people of Bahawalpur have a separate identity and culture. Most people in the southern Punjab follow slightly different traditions.”

The demonstration continued for more than an hour where the protesters demanded that the South Punjab province have Multan as its capital and be separate from the Bahawalpur province.

The participants alleged that the Pakistan People’s Party has been making conspiring against the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan by dividing Pakistanis along ethnic lines. They said the PML-N would not support any movement that led to the division of Pakistan on ethnic grounds. They said a single party could not decide the fate of the people of the country.

“We want all stake holders to be heard on the creation of new provinces,” they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Carving provinces: ‘Parliament must ascertain the will of the people first’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501490/carving-provinces-parliament-must-ascertain-the-will-of-the-people-first</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501490/carving-provinces-parliament-must-ascertain-the-will-of-the-people-first#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 13 20:35:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=501490</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Deputy attorney general asks for more time to produce notification.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court observed on Friday that the incumbent assemblies had no mandate to create new provinces. The court was hearing petitions questioning the legal status of a parliamentary commission on new provinces.


Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan pointed out that political parties represented in the parliament had not contested the previous election with the manifesto of new provinces. “The parties should contest the upcoming elections with their proposals for new provinces,” the judge said.

The judge said the bid for creation of new provinces as a general election approached had raised doubts regarding the motivation of the political parties involved.

Lead counsel for the petitioners, Advocate Azhar Siddique, argued that neither the Constitution nor Rules of Business allowed the National Assembly speaker to form a commission to deliberate creation of new provinces.

The counsel said people in Mianwali had been observing strikes to protest the recommendations of the “illegal” parliamentary commission. He said the situation might get worse if the commission was not suspended.

Justice Khan asked a deputy attorney general to produce the notification regarding the formation of the parliamentary commission. The law officer could not produce the notification. He said authorities in Islamabad had been contacted but nothing had come forth so far. He sought more time to produce the notification.

The judge observed that the court could not issue a stay order till it knew who had issued the notification using which law.

He adjourned the hearing till Monday (February 4) and directed the deputy attorney general to come up with the notification, the recommendations and the terms of references of the Parliamentary Commission.

Earlier, the petitioners’ counsel had reiterated that the president’s spokesman and PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar was heading the commission and that the majority party in the Punjab had boycotted it. He said both the ANP and the MQM, represented on the commission, had no representation in the Punjab at any level.

The counsel pointed out that Punjab Assembly had passed two resolutions on the matter and demanded the restoration of Bahawalpur province. He said Senator Babar had denied the existence of a Bahawalpur province in the past.

Advocate Siddique argued that the incumbent leaders had no mandate for creating a new province. He reiterated that Article 239 of the Constitution empowered the Parliament to change the boundaries of provinces.

He said that Mianwali was a lot closer to Lahore than Multan but some political parties were recommending including Mianwali in the new province to gain political mileage.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Identity and governance: Nawab insists on a separate province</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501497/identity-and-governance-nawab-insists-on-a-separate-province</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/501497/identity-and-governance-nawab-insists-on-a-separate-province#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 13 20:29:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Kashif Zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=501497</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[8,000 plus people gather at Fareed Gate Chowk.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[“We will not accept a Bahawalpur-South Punjab province at any cost. We will shed the last drop of our blood for the restoration of Bahawalpur province,” Bahawalpur Awami National Party (BANP) Chief Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi said on Friday.


He was addressing a gathering of some 8,000 people at the Fareed Gate Chowk.

He said the PML-N and the PPP were trying to mislead the people in Bahawalpur as well as in the southern Punjab.

“But this no a joke, nor are people’s lives a sitcom.”

Referring to the strength of the gathering, the nawab said that the “ocean of people from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar” spoke volumes about what the people wanted.

In Bahawalpur state, he said, nobody ever went hungry.

Health and education facilities were exemplary, he added.

He said three nawabs had laid down their lives in the service of the people of Bahawalpur.

“Nawab Bahawal Khan Rabay was murdered in 1866, Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan in 1899 and Nawab Bahawal Khan was poisoned during Hajj in 1960.”

He said he, too, was willing to lay down his life for the cause. He said he feared no one, but Allah.

He regretted that despite passing a resolution and setting up a commission, first the PPP and then the PML-N had backed out of their commitments.

He said the PPP had betrayed late Benazir Bhutto by not keeping her promise made to the people of Bahawalpur.

BANP President Muhammad Farooq Azam, a former federal minister, said that some people had spread false rumours that that Nawab Abbasi had ‘sold out the movement’.

He said that former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had spent Rs236 billion on Multan, but had not spent a single penny on Bahawalpur. He said his party and the people demanded that the Bahawalpur province be created before the elections.

BANP Central Information Secretary Muhammad Javed Khan Daulatzai, former nazim of Sadiqabad Mir Fazalur Rehman and Farmers’ Board Pakistan Central Deputy President Jam Hazoor Bakhsh Laar also addressed the gathering.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Creating a new province</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499849/creating-a-new-province</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499849/creating-a-new-province#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jan 13 19:43:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499849</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PPP should wait till after elections and, if it forms another government, bring all parties on board for this issue.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The PPP government, in an ambitious move has, through the parliamentary commission on new provinces, proposed carving out a new province that will be called Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab. Apart from the unfortunate acronym this proposed province shares with the right wing, anti-Pakistan political party in India, it also fails to take into account the views of the main opposition parties, which would either prefer that Punjab be left alone or have two new provinces created in Bahawalpur and South Punjab. The PML-N has also reiterated its demand for the creation of a Hazara province.

The PPP has been hasty in calling for this new province without securing the assent of the opposition parties. The composition of the commission on new provinces was already shrouded in controversy since it is headed by the president’s spokesperson and the Punjab Assembly, which after all is made up of the representatives of the province that will be affected, was only allowed to nominate two of the commission’s 12 members. Both the Punjab Assembly and the PML-N, as a whole, have continually expressed their lack of confidence in the commission.

The timing of the move is also unwise. With elections due to be held in May, now may not be the time to create new administrative units. The opposition parties are sure to believe that the new provinces are being created only to help the electoral prospects of the PPP. Since the Constitution requires both houses of parliament and the province being affected to pass any bill creating new provinces by a two-thirds majority there is simply no way to create the province without the PML-N’s assent. The PPP has not even tried to secure that and so the commission’s proposals are likely dead on arrival. Now, the PPP should wait till after the elections and, if it forms another government, try and bring all parties on board before bringing this issue up again.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>New province in Punjab is a political stunt: PML-N</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/500500/new-province-in-punjab-is-a-political-stunt-pml-n</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/500500/new-province-in-punjab-is-a-political-stunt-pml-n#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 13 07:53:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=500500</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission chairman says draft bill will be presented in Parliament.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The controversy around Bahawalpur South Punjab – the proposed new province – dominated Senate proceedings on Tuesday, leading to heated debate between the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).


The PML-N called the move to create a new province a “political stunt” while the PPP said it was fulfilling a commitment made to the people.

PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar said that without making the commission’s report public and taking stakeholders on board, the debate illustrates the PPP’s unrealistic approach. “The PML-N even rejects the mandate of the commission as leaders of the opposition in the Senate and the National Assembly were never consulted,” he said.

Despite admitting that the bill could not be passed in the Punjab Assembly with a two-thirds majority, the PPP is using the issue as a “political gimmick” prior to the elections, said Dar, referring to a speech by Senator Farhatullah Babar, who heads the committee on new provinces. “Raising the issue at this stage appears to be not for the people of the southern Punjab but for political mileage. There could have been broader consensus had they been sincere.”

Babar has said that the commission consulted 15 experts and hundreds of people even sent in recommendations. Although the Punjab Assembly resolution mentioned restoring Bahawalpur as a province, not a single document suggests that it ever was one.

Babar underlined that three PML-N members and two Punjab MPAs were on the commission, but did not turn up to its meeting. “I admit that we don’t have a two-thirds majority and it is a challenge for us to have it passed. But it is our political intention to bring the bill, though it may be opposed or amended.” He claimed that the resolution of Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, former Punjab Assembly opposition leader, on new provinces had been blocked for three years.



PML-N Senator Jaffar Iqbal said the Punjab government had passed two resolutions, one for the restoration of Bahawalpur as a province and another for the creation of a province in southern Punjab. “We will definitely support it if a consensus bill is tabled, but it hasn’t happened.”

He pointed out that Bhakkar and Mianwali have been included without asking their people. They are now on strike as a result.  In other debates, Awami National Party Senator Zahid Khan questioned the use of so many check posts in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Meeting at Presidency: PPP to cajole allies on South Punjab, interim set-up issues</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/500103/meeting-at-presidency-ppp-to-cajole-allies-on-south-punjab-interim-set-up-issues</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/500103/meeting-at-presidency-ppp-to-cajole-allies-on-south-punjab-interim-set-up-issues#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 13 05:46:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=500103</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Party also discussed NAB chief’s recently dispatched letter to the president.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has decided to cajole coalition partners to muster support for introducing a constitutional amendment for the bifurcation of Punjab and to forge a consensus on interim governments that are to be installed before the general elections.

According to sources, the decision was made during a meeting held at the Presidency late Monday night, where key leaders of the PPP also discussed high-profile cases in the superior courts and the NAB chief’s recently dispatched letter to the president.

“It (passing a constitutional amendment) will not be an easy task. But we are committed to our stance on South Punjab province” a top PPP leader said.

Sources said Senator Farhatullah Babar briefed the participants of the meeting about the report of a parliamentary committee on new provinces, headed by him.

The parliamentary commission finalised on Monday its report on a new province with a proposed name – the Bahawalpur Junubi Punjab – and is likely to table it before Parliament during the ongoing session.



The PML-N had already boycotted the proceedings of the commission, while the JUI-F and government allies PML-Q and ANP have filed dissenting notes with the final report.

Under the proposed plan, a PPP leader said, the government will move the bill in Parliament, which will then be sent to the concerned standing committee for further deliberations.

On the other hand, Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar denied that the core committee met on Monday night, terming the reports as incorrect.  Babar insisted that the prime minister and some federal ministers routinely meet the president, which, he said, is what happened Monday night.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>The Seraiki card</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499846/the-seraiki-card</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499846/the-seraiki-card#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 13 21:57:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rasul.bakhsh.rais]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499846</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PPP strategists thought the creation and promotion of Seraiki identity would have a lasting effect on the region.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Finally, the report of the parliamentary commission on carving up new provinces is out. What the commission has produced is a piece of shoddy political work that is not going to help the country restructure the present federating units. Rather, it may polarise ethnic communities, regions, provinces and political parties and make the task of creating new provinces more controversial than the issue has been so far.

First, let us admit that dividing provinces along ethnic, historical or administrative lines is always a controversial matter and not an easy one to deal with in a polarised and over-politicised society like Pakistan’s. Unlike India, we have retained the colonial boundaries of the provinces, except that we created the province of Balochistan with the disbanding of the one unit system by a martial law regime in 1969. Another anomaly was that Bahawalpur maintained a province-like status until the formation of One Unit in 1954 when it was absorbed into Punjab. It was a questionable move on the part of the Punjabi bureaucracy and the dominant political class. Their real interest was in the fertile lands of the Bahawalpur state. The results of that move are obvious to all of us in the changed demographic character of this formerly princely state. Today, Punjabi settlers from other parts of Punjab dominate the political economy of the Bahawalpur division.

The people of Bahawalpur resisted the change in their status peacefully and by democratic, political means. They formed the Bahawalpur Suba Mahaz (BSM) and contested the 1970 elections on the Bahawalpur province platform. They won a clear majority on the provincial and national assembly seats. This was the only region that escaped the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) wave.

The PPP government then, with a firm hold over Punjab under ZAB, gradually extended its sway over Bahawalpur by making political deals and aligning the powerful figures in the area with the PPP. Within a few years, the BSM disintegrated.

One of the moves that the PPP strategists thought would have a lasting effect on the region was the creation and promotion of Seraiki identity. The issue of a common Seraiki identity of various regions that spoke the same language had been on the agenda of Sindhi and Seraiki intellectuals and activists for almost a decade already. The convening of a National Seraiki Conference in Multan in 1974 introduced a new discourse on Seraiki identity. Not much has been written about the first Seraiki convention — the actors, the motives and the effects of this movement.

The Seraiki identity, over time, became firmly, widely accepted and owned by the speakers of Seraiki language in different regions of Punjab, as well as the other three provinces. Whatever the motives of the first-ever Seraiki Conference, Seraiki has caused gradual fading of other names of the same language — Multani, Riasti, Jatki, Dervi and Jangli.

Being the largest numerically, Punjab is unquestionably the real centre of power in Pakistan. During the past one year, we have seen clear outlines of strategies by major political parties for winning over the political elite and the population of Punjab. The PPP has been deft in presenting the proposal for a South Punjab province to win the hearts and minds of the Seraiki people. It has forced the PML-N to agree on the division of Punjab. The PML-N, by insisting on creating two provinces, Bahawalpur and Seraiki or South Punjab, may prevent a political consensus on the numbers of new provinces, but not on the division of Punjab.

The PPP appears to have played the Seraiki card rather too well. How best it can translate its support to the Seraiki province into electoral victory in the Seraiki region is yet to be seen, but already the Seraiki province has emerged as a popular political issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Bahawalpur South Punjab: Decision not made with proper representation, says Nisar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499598/bahawalpur-south-punjab-decision-not-made-with-proper-representation-says-nisar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499598/bahawalpur-south-punjab-decision-not-made-with-proper-representation-says-nisar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 13 05:10:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499598</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says the new province is being created to empower select politicians.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The ruling party’s move to carve out Bahawalpur South Punjab from within Punjab’s boundaries is a mere political gimmick to win votes and empower the Makhdoom and Gilani families, hit out an opposition leader on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference at Punjab House, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the Pakistan Peoples Party government was not “sincere” about the creation of the new province.

“This move will not serve the larger interest of the masses in south Punjab and will merely create slots for the governor and chief minister for those pressing for it,” said Nisar.

The opposition has boycotted a parliamentary commission overseeing the creation of new provinces in Punjab. The commission has wrapped up its report which is expected to be presented in parliament this week. The commission has agreed on naming the new province Bahawalpur South Punjab.

However, it appears that the outcome of the commission has not gone down well. On Saturday, PML-N leader Khwaja Asif told Express News that unless members of the Punjab Assembly were  involved in the decision making, or the matter was initiated from the Punjab Assembly, the creation of any new province goes contrary to the Constitution. Asif had criticiszed the very composition of the commission, claiming that there was insufficient representation from Punjab.

That the commission had insufficient representation from the opposition also irked Nisar, who said that it should not be called a national body as it had no PML-N leader from central Punjab – the region under discussion. Indeed, the PML-N’s Asad has pointed out that the commission’s chairman, Farhatullah Babar, was from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. This was problematic, added Nisar, as Babar was a “close aide and personal staff officer” of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Nisar also felt that the commission was not formed by the federal government, but was instead arbitrarily set in place by President Zardari, something that had affected its credibility.

This has cast a shadow on the motives, said the opposition leader, arguing that carving out a new province is not as urgent as other major issues; the PPP is doing this merely for political mileage as the elections approach.

“Even if the South Punjab province were formed, it will not solve the problems of the masses. This is being done only to serve the purpose of Makhdoom and Gilani families, who will be its chief minister and governor.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>PPP using Bahawalpur province issue as a stunt for next elections: Chaudhry Nisar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499370/ppp-using-bahawalpur-province-issue-as-a-stunt-for-next-elections-chaudhry-nisar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499370/ppp-using-bahawalpur-province-issue-as-a-stunt-for-next-elections-chaudhry-nisar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 13 13:59:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Ema Anis]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499370</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Opposition expresses serious reservations over commission formed for Bahawalpur province.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) government is not sincere in the formulation of a South Punjab and a Bahawalpur province and is only using the issue as a “stunt” ahead of the upcoming general elections, said Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Chaudhry Nisar said that the opposition has serious reservations over the Bahawalpur commission as it did not have any representation from Punjab – a province that is being divided. “If they [government] had consulted us before making the commission, then they wouldn’t have anything to boast about before the next elections,” he maintained.

Not even one of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leaders who were members of the commission belonged from the Punjab that is being divided, said the opposition leader, adding that it was the party’s right to choose a member on its own. “The chairman of the commission is [President Asif Ali] Zardari’s staff officer... There is no MNA, MPA or senator from Punjab.”

The opposition leader added, “The commission has no right to call itself a ‘national commission’ because it had no representation from Punjab and from PML-N. It was not even formed by the federal government, Zardari formed it, which is wrong.”

Chaudhry Nisar also said that the formulation of a new province is not a matter of grave concern as there are other major issues in the country. “If a South Punjab province is formed, Makhdoom will become its chief minister and Gilani will become the governor. The problems of the poor people will remain as they are.”]]>
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			<title>Carve up plan: Panel agrees on ‘Bahawalpur South Punjab’ province</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499273/carve-up-plan-panel-agrees-on-%e2%80%98bahawalpur-south-punjab%e2%80%99-province</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499273/carve-up-plan-panel-agrees-on-%e2%80%98bahawalpur-south-punjab%e2%80%99-province#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jan 13 05:42:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499273</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Parliamentary commission to present final report in National Assembly on Tuesday.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The parliamentary commission on new provinces evolved consensus on Saturday when it proposed “Bahawalpur South Punjab” as the name of the province to be carved out of Punjab.


The commission also approved its draft report, which is likely to be presented in the National Assembly on Tuesday. “We will have yet another meeting on Monday and the report will be submitted later,” Senator Farhatullah Babar, chairman of the commission, told The Express Tribune. “The nation will soon hear the good news,” he said.

The commission, when constituted, was given the task to carve out two new provinces in Punjab as per a resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly, which demanded the restoration of Bahawalpur’s status as a province and the creation of a new unit in southern Punjab. However, the commission has focused solely on one new unit.

Draft of report

According to the draft report of the commission, four different models have been proposed for the new province. The models tackle issues such as the distribution of economic, financial and administrative resources, demarcation [of boundaries], seat allocation in assemblies, and minority and constitutional amendments.

According to reports, the new province will have a share of 59 seats in the National Assembly while the provincial assembly will have 124 members. According to details, the commission has recom mended 47 general seats and 12 special seats for women and minorities. Similarly, out of the 124 seats in its provincial assembly, 101 seats have been allocated for general members and 23 special seats for women and minorities.



However, according to the draft, the election commission will have the final say on seat distribution.

The commission, which is due to conclude its meetings on Monday, will give the go-ahead to its preferred model before presenting it before the National Assembly speaker. The treasury bench will then introduce this bill in the National Assembly, after which it will be referred to the concerned standing committee for consideration.

A consensus has also evolved for Bahawalpur as the capital of the new province, whereas the provincial assembly will be situated in Multan.

PML-N strategy 

According to a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member, the party has not yet formulated a strategy on the bill.

However, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will point out lacunas in the proposed bill. According to sources, the party would raise objections against the commission’s proposals. The party will urge the commission to comply with the Punjab Assembly resolution of carving out two provinces instead one province, amongst other objections.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Khwaja Asif told Express News that unless members of Punjab Assembly were involved in the decision or the matter is initiated from Punjab Assembly, any action in this regard by the centre is contrary to the Constitution.

“The Punjab Assembly has already passed a resolution on the Bahawalpur province. If the centre makes any attempt to create new administrative units from existing provinces, this is constitutionally incorrect.”

Asif also criticised the makeup of the parliamentary commission, arguing that the head of the commission, Farhatullah Babar, was from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and terming the entire activity a farce to secure more votes.

“We [PML-N] are in favour of creating new provinces along administrative lines. If they are created along ethnic lines, then this will harm the nation,” Asif said, adding that the issue would die down after elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Parliamentary body's 'Bahawalpur South Punjab' province report in NA next week</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499097/parliamentary-bodys-bahawalpur-south-punjab-province-report-in-na-next-week</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/499097/parliamentary-bodys-bahawalpur-south-punjab-province-report-in-na-next-week#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jan 13 16:40:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=499097</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PML-N leader Khawaja Asif terms Commission's actions constitutionally incorrect.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Parliamentary commission for formulating new provinces in Punjab on Saturday unanimously decided on the proposed name for the new province in south Punjab, “Bahawalpur South Punjab” province.

The commission said that its report on formulating a new province has been finalised and signed by all and it will be presented in the National Assembly next week.

A member of the commission told APP outside the Parliament House on Saturday that the commission has decided to include Mainwali and Bhakkar districts would in the new province of Bahawalpur South Punjab. He added that the bill was drafted keeping in view all matters related to a new province, including the distribution of financial resources.

Chairman of Commission Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the nation would soon hear good news of the new province.

MNA and Commission Member Jamsheed Dasti said the new province was a demand from the people in south Punjab and Bahawlpur. To a question, he said all members of the Commission had played their role in the preparation of the report and he hoped that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will support the bill for creating Bahawalpur South Punjab province.

Parliamentary commission unlawful: Khwaja Asif 

Even as the government seemed to make progress in the matter of creating a new south Punjab province, PML-N’s Khwaja Asif told Express News that unless members of Punjab Assembly are involved in the decision or the matter is initiated from Punjab Assembly, any action in this regard by the centre is contrary to the Constitution.

“Punjab Assembly has already passed a resolution on the Bahawalpur province. If the centre does any activity on the creating new administrative units from existing provinces, this is constitutionally incorrect.”

Asif criticised the make up of the parliamentary commission, saying the chairman of the commission, Farhatullah Babar, was from Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. He termed the entire activity as unlawful, a farce and an act to get more votes.

“We [PML-N] are in favour of creating new provinces along administrative lines. If they are created along ethnic lines, then this will harm the nation,” Asif said.

“I think this is an issue associated with the elections and will die down with elections.”

The PML-N leader said that his party intended to create a new province in Punjab but “not like this."

Altaf wants new province before elections

In a statement released on Saturday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain demanded that the new Bahawalpur South Punjab province should be created before the general elections.

Altaf urged President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to consider the matter of a south Punjab province seriously so that the demands of south Punjab residents are fulfilled immediately.]]>
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			<title>Bahawalpur province: ‘Makhdooms and Gilanis cannot decide our fate’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/497594/bahawalpur-province-%e2%80%98makhdooms-and-gilanis-cannot-decide-our-fate%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/497594/bahawalpur-province-%e2%80%98makhdooms-and-gilanis-cannot-decide-our-fate%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 13 07:22:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Kashif Zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=497594</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi accuses Punjab governor of betraying people of Bahawalpur.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[“We will not let any Gilani or Makhdoom determine the fate of Bahawalpur province,” Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi, leader of the Bahawalpur National Awami Party (BNAP), said on Tuesday. He was addressing a press conference at the house of party’s President Muhammad Farooq Azam Malik.


Abbasi said the BNAP had supported the PPP after late Benazir Bhutto promised to create a Bahawalpur province. He said now that the PPP had almost completed its tenure, it was backing out from the commitment. He said he had declined an offer to be made governor and change his stance.

The nawab said that Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood had made a two-and-a-half-month deal with the government and betrayed the people of Bahawalpur.

“We will not let them add Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan to the Bahawalpur province.”

The nawab said that the government could neither deceive the people of Bahawalpur nor force them to change their perspectives and compromise.



He said the BNAP will participate in the upcoming general elections.

He said the Sharif Brothers should live up to their commitment and play their role in the creation of the Bahawalpur province. He hoped that they would not betray the people as the PPP had.

The nawab claimed that before Mehmood, the PPP had offered him the Punjab governorship. But, he said, he had refused to make any deal that would require him to compromise the rights of the people of Bahawalpur.

He said his party’s demands were legitimate and that they would not stop until the Bahawalpur province was created. He said the party would also reject any changes made in the recommendations of the commission formed to creation new provinces.



The nawab announced that he will stand for two National Assembly seats from Bahawalpur and one from Rahim Yar Khan.

Former federal minister and BNAP President Muhammad Farooq Azam Malik said that the issue of creating the Bahawalpur province was completely different from the creation of other provinces.

“There is no problem with our boundaries and resources.

Mehmood’s father, Makhdoom Hassan Mahmood, had served as chief minister of Bahawalpur state before it was disbanded in 1956.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013. ]]>
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			<title>Commission on New Provinces: Dera Ghazi Khan’s voice went unheard, says Leghari</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/497812/commission-on-new-provinces-dera-ghazi-khan%e2%80%99s-voice-went-unheard-says-leghari</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/497812/commission-on-new-provinces-dera-ghazi-khan%e2%80%99s-voice-went-unheard-says-leghari#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 13 06:34:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=497812</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Lashes out at Mehmood-Gilani statement about creation of Bahawalpur province.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Independent Senator Mohsin Khan Leghari submitted a letter to the secretary of the Parliamentary Commission on New Provinces in Punjab to express his strong reservations over the exclusion of representation from the Dera Ghazi Khan division in the consultation process. He also urged the commission’s chairman, Senator Farhatullah Babar, to clarify whether one province will be formed or two.


“I represented PP-245 DG Khan VI in the Punjab Assembly from 2003-2012 before being elected as an Independent Senator in March 2012,” the letter, titled ‘Proposed South Punjab/Bahawalpur Province,’ stated. “As a representative of Dera Ghazi Khan, and being elected with cross party support in the provincial assembly to the senate, I strongly believe I am a stakeholder in the issue. [The] future of my home district is being decided without any input from the people and the public representatives of the district. I would like to register my strongest possible reservations at the exclusion of DG Khan from the consultative process to be put on record.”



The commission was constituted in August of last year by the speaker of the National Assembly and comprises Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senators Farhatullah Babar and Syeda Sughra Imam, Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) Senator Kamil Ali Agha and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Senator Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, PPP MNAs Arif Aziz Sheikh, Jamshed Ahmed Dasti, Syed Ali Musa Gilani, PML-N MNAs Tehmina Daultana and Chaudhry Saud Majeed, as well as Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s  (MQM) Dr Farooq Sattar.

The Punjab Assembly was asked to nominate two members but the speaker has so far refused to nominate anyone for the commission. PML-N has been boycotting the commission sittings and none of the nominated members attend the meetings.

Leghari, who was one of the most proactive parliamentarians for the rights of southern Punjab, lashed out at the issue of the Bahawalpur province announcement while talking to The Express Tribune. The announcement was made by the Punjab Governor Makhdom Ahmed Mehmood and former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani during a public rally in Rahimyar Khan. They declared that only one province would be formed, named Bahawalpur province.

Leghari said the PPP government was trying to exploit the popular demand at the very end of its tenure to gain political mileage for the upcoming elections, as both the PPP and the PML-N had been blocking his resolutions in the Punjab Assembly for 4 years. He said that it was only after Shahbaz Sharif threw the PPP ministers out from his cabinet that PPP took up the South Punjab cause. Leghari lamented the fact that southern Punjab’s water share from river Indus had continuously been compromised, and ‘champions’ of the cause had acted as mere spectators.

Furthermore, Leghari added that he had raised the issue on the floor of the Senate to clarify the statement made by Mehmood and Gilani.

According to him, Senator Babar instantly deflated Mehmood-Gilani’s Bahawalpur province bubble. Babar distanced the commission from the statement, saying that no matter who claimed what, the commission has not made its recommendations yet regarding the formation of the province that would encompass the Bahawalpur, Multan and DG Khan divisions.

Senator Babar said, “It is necessary that I clarify that whatever has been said by anybody other than the chairman of the commission, regardless of his position, is not the view of the commission itself. “

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013.]]>
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			<title>‘PML-N to play role to create Bahawalpur province’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482195/%e2%80%98pml-n-to-play-role-to-create-bahawalpur-province%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482195/%e2%80%98pml-n-to-play-role-to-create-bahawalpur-province%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Dec 12 20:38:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=482195</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Haji Ahsanuddin Qureshi says PML-N believed in serving the people and making no false promises.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will play an important role in the creation of a Bahawalpur province, Haji Ahsanuddin Qureshi, the religious affairs minister said on Thursday.


Qureshi was addressing a meeting of PML-N members at the Circuit House in Bahawalpur. He said the PML-N believed in serving the people and making no false promises.

He said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders had claimed that a South Punjab province was being created but later said it lacked the required strength in the assemblies. He said the PML-N government had started a record number of development projects in the Punjab.

He said third party surveys had concluded that these projects were corruption free and most were completed on time.

He said the Education Endowment Fund, scholarships and laptop schemes had benefited young people. He said PML-N had ended police station-controlled politics. Later, he visited a steel recycling mill near Bahawalpur to meet party workers and directed the Labour Dept to ensure that wages were being paid to workers according to relevant laws.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>Punjab Assembly: Opp demands nominations for provinces commission</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482213/punjab-assembly-opp-demands-nominations-for-provinces-commission</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482213/punjab-assembly-opp-demands-nominations-for-provinces-commission#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Dec 12 19:16:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=482213</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Speaker doesn’t allow members to discuss the issue.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Opposition members in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday urged the speaker to nominate two members for the federal commission on the formation of new provinces in southern Punjab, but their demands were rejected.


Speaking on a point of order, Sardar Ather Khan Gorchani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) asked Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal to issue a notification stating which two members would represent the Punjab on the commission, which is considering the possibility of the formation of a Seraiki province or a Bahawalpur province.

Gorchani said that the commission was continuing to hold meetings even without representation from the Punjab. He said that the speaker should select two MPAs for the commission. It would be a great injustice to the people of south Punjab to be deprived of their rights due to PML-N’s stubbornness, he said. He accused Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif of diverting development funds meant for south Punjab to Lahore.

The speaker told Gorchani not to say any more on the subject, but the MPA continued to speak. He said that the PML-N’s move to present a resolution in the house in favour of a Bahawalpur province was meant to divert attention from the formation of a south Punjab province. He said that the PPP was willing to form two new provinces in the Punjab.

The speaker then turned down the volume on Gorchani’s microphone, prompting angry outbursts from other opposition members.

They demanded that the speaker allow Gorchani to continue. The speaker refused and asked Gorchani to meet him in his chamber.



Seemal Kamran of the PML-Q also sought to raise the issue, but when she was denied permission, she pointed out the lack of quorum.

The treasury benches could not meet the quorum so the speaker adjourned the session till Friday morning.

Question hour

The assembly session began around 75 minutes later than its scheduled start of 10am. Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education Rao Kashif answered queries during question hour.

Sajida Mir of the PPP demanded that Queen Mary College be upgraded to a university. Kashif said that if the PML-N were re-elected in the Punjab, it would do so next year.

In another question, Mir said that the water supply at Bilal Gunj Girls Degree College was contaminated. Kashif said that he would look into the matter.

Humaira Awais Shahid of the PML-Q, speaking on a point of order, asked the speaker to take notice that the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education’s online application system was out of order.

She said that students wishing to apply to sit the matriculation exams could not fill out the online form and the deadline was December 24. She asked the speaker to get the date extended.

The speaker said the Education Department should address the issue and agreed that the date for submission of the online form should be extended.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>Parliamentary commission: Despite deadlock, new provinces panel plods on</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475823/parliamentary-commission-despite-deadlock-new-provinces-panel-plods-on</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475823/parliamentary-commission-despite-deadlock-new-provinces-panel-plods-on#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Dec 12 04:26:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=475823</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Commission assigned to create new provinces in Punjab to meet on Dec 10, while PML-N continues boycott.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[With little hope of success, a commission constituted to carve out a new South Punjab and Bahawalpur province is still plodding on – and is scheduled to meet again on December 10.


Both previous meetings were boycotted by the main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), over the composition of the commission.

The chairman of the parliamentary commission, Senator Farhatullah Babar, told The Express Tribune that the commission will continue its work even if the opposition does not attend the meeting, but at the same time, added, “The commission requests the opposition to join the effort.”

Meanwhile, a PML-N member of the commission, Chaudry Saud Majeed, linked the attendance of his party to the fulfilment of its demands.

“We will not attend the meeting if the government does not fulfil our demands with regard to the composition of the commission,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune.

The PML-N has said there is no representation from the Punjab Assembly in the commission. It has also opposed Senator Babar’s chairmanship while pointing out that he is President Asif Ali Zardari’s spokesperson. “The commission is related to Punjab and members of the Punjab assembly should have proper representation,” Majeed added.



The PML-N member also pointed out that the commission consists of six members from Southern Punjab and only five from Bahawalpur – Majeed alleged that this was done to outvote Bahawalpur’s revival, since it was his party that supported the revival.

Earlier in July, President Zardari had asked the National Assembly speaker to formally initiate a process for carving out two separate provinces in Punjab and asked that a report be submitted to the president as well as the prime minister within 30 days of its notification in the official gazette.

The commission was told to “Look into the issues relating to the fair distribution of economic and financial resources, demarcation, allocation /readjustment of seats in the National Assembly, Senate and the concerned provincial assembly and allocation of seats in the new province on basis of population, including seats of minorities and women and other constitutional, legal and administrative matters. The provisions of the constitution which would require amendment inter alia include Articles 1(2), 51, 59 and 106 of the Constitution.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>New provinces: Parliamentary commission meeting called on Dec 10</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475511/new-provinces-parliamentary-commission-meeting-called-on-dec-10</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475511/new-provinces-parliamentary-commission-meeting-called-on-dec-10#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 12 09:32:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=475511</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PPP reportedly planning to introduce amendment for giving federation more power in creating new provinces.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A parliamentary commission meeting has been called on December 10 on the creation of new provinces in Punjab, Express News reported on Wednesday.

Earlier, it was learned that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) plans to introduce a constitutional amendment which would strengthen the role of parliament in the creation of new provinces.

At present, dividing a province requires support of two-thirds of the respective provincial assembly.

Sindhi members of the party have reservations over the federation acquiring such powers as it could result in the division of Sindh as well.

The opposition, however, believes that it is all “political sloganeering”.]]>
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			<title>Govt-opposition deadlock: New provinces panel to seek more time</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/435275/govt-opposition-deadlock-new-provinces-panel-to-seek-more-time</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/435275/govt-opposition-deadlock-new-provinces-panel-to-seek-more-time#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Sep 12 04:47:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zia.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=435275</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Farhatullah Babar says body remains undeterred by PML-N’s protests.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After the government held a fresh meeting of the parliamentary commission tasked to frame recommendations for creating South Punjab province, Commission Chairman Senator Farhatullah Babar from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) told reporters that the body will move ahead with the process whether or not Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members participated.


“It won’t make any difference,” said Babar about the boycott of members from the opposition party in an uncharacteristic statement.

Babar, who is also the spokesperson for President Asif Ali Zardari, said the commission would ask the National Assembly to grant more time for framing its recommendations once the one-month deadline given to it expired.

Babar said Law Minister Farooq H Naek had briefed the commission about constitutional and legal opinions on the issue after a fresh resolution in the Punjab Assembly seeking to block the commission’s proceedings.

He added that the law ministry had advised the commission to continue its proceedings without any fear of rejection by the court if it was challenged.

Meanwhile, PML-N spokesperson Mushahidullah Khan said his party would consider the constitutional and legal options available to it for blocking the creation of South Punjab province but declined to share the exact strategy.

The PML-N has also decided it will not suspend negotiations with the government to bring in an interim setup despite a deadlock over the composition and scope of the commission.

“These are separate issues. We will not link one with the other,” Mushahidullah told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>New provinces: PPP is trying to make issue controversial, says Ahsan Iqbal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430595/new-provinces-ppp-is-trying-to-make-issue-controversial-says-ahsan-iqbal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430595/new-provinces-ppp-is-trying-to-make-issue-controversial-says-ahsan-iqbal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Sep 12 11:21:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Ema Anis]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=430595</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PML-N leader claims that government formed one-sided  commission against the Punjab Assembly resolution.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal claimed that the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is trying to create disputes in the creation of new provinces and is using it as an electioneering slogan.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Iqbal said, “The resolution passed in the Punjab Assembly regarding Bahawalpur and South Punjab provinces should have been worked on in letter and spirit. But the federal government one-sidedly made a national commission which was against the spirit of the resolution.”

The PML-N leader added that the government did not hold any talks with the Punjab government and there was no consensus about the national commission.

“The PPP is not interested in making a South Punjab province but only wants to use it as an electioneering slogan. If it were serious, then it could have resolved all issues during the 18th amendment committee meeting when all other issues were being talked about,” the leader asserted, while adding that the PPP and the coalition partners had kept the issue of new provinces aside during the 18th amendment talks arguing that the security situation of the country was not stable enough.

The leader further said that whenever a new province is being made, a lot of other issues also emerge, including the distribution of resources. “The new provinces are based on an agricultural economy and water will be vital for them. But in these four years, no step was taken by the government. Not a single conference was held to talk about this issue.”

He added that even the recently passed budget had no money allocated to the new provinces for initial support.

“Now that the time of the elections is here, the government has formed a controversial commission so that when reservations are raised against it, an impression will be given that the PPP wants to have the provinces made but the opposition doesn’t,” Iqbal claimed.

Protest in National Assembly

Iqbal announced that the PML-N will protest against the recent raise in petroleum prices during the National Assembly session and termed the Rs8 hike as “brutal”.

He alleged that the prices were raised so that the government could pay for its “lavish expenses and corruption” with the people’s money.

“We will demand that the price raise be taken back,” Iqbal said.]]>
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			<title>New provinces row: PML-N to hold key session in Murree today</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430407/pml-n-to-hold-key-session-in-murree-today</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430407/pml-n-to-hold-key-session-in-murree-today#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Sep 12 05:12:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=430407</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Nawaz Sharif expected to brief party leaders on PPP’s response to PML-N’s proposals.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Senior cadres of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) will hold a brainstorming session in the popular summer resort of Murree today (Monday) to chalk out the party’s line of action on the issue of new provinces, The Express Tribune learnt.


The party’s chief, Nawaz Sharif, is expected to share with the participants Pakistan Peoples Party’s response to a set of proposals put forward by the PML-N on the makeup of the national commission on new provinces, sources told The Express Tribune.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, is said to have communicated the PML-N’s proposals to the PPP through backdoor channels. The ruling party’s response is expected in Monday’s session of the National Assembly, sources added.

The PML-N is calling for the formation of a new commission with a retired judge of the Supreme Court at the helm. The party also demands that members of the commission from the Punjab Assembly should be equal to those from parliament.

It was earlier reported that the PML-N is asking for the chairmanship of the commission.

The PML-N also believes that new provinces should not be carved in Punjab alone. The commission, it says, should be mandated to look into the possibility of forming Hazara and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) provinces.

Furthermore, the PML-N says a new commission should be constituted by the government and not the National Assembly speaker, and that it should have representation from all political parties.

According to sources, the PML-N is unwilling to budge on its demands. If the PPP responds negatively to its proposals, the PML-N would try to press the coalition government into creating a new commission. However, if the ruling party shows flexibility, the PML-N would suggest a retired SC judge for leading the new commission.

PML-N’s Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra confirmed to The Express Tribune the agenda of Monday’s meeting. He said the party had no issue with the creation of new provinces of South Punjab and Bahawalpur, but this should be done through a new national commission.

He added that a retired Supreme Court judge would lend credibility to a new commission on provinces.

Jhagra was skeptically hopeful that the PPP would concede his party’s demands as parliamentary elections are just around the corner.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>FATA left behind in new province debate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430003/fata-left-behind-in-new-province-debate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430003/fata-left-behind-in-new-province-debate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Sep 12 06:31:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mureeb.mohmand]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=430003</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Local leaders say committee on new provinces does not understand tribal areas’ needs.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The parliamentary commission on new provinces (PCNP) is facing hurdles after receiving criticism from major political parties for not representing the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).


In the area, political leaders, amongst others, have held strong reservations about the decision to create another province. The Fata parliamentarians are divided into four groups. These include the  Hameedullah Jan Afridi group, who lead the joint parliamentary group, Munir Orakzai (PPP-led coalition group), Akhunzada Chattan (PPP group), while Abdul Malik and Senator Salih Shah belongs to the JUI-F group.

While the PPP and ANP want to merge the tribal areas into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), JUI-F leaders want the Fata council to decide the fate of the area. Currently, all political leaders except for JUI-F and Orakzai groups seek representation in the commission on the formation of new provinces.

There are also three major views about the formation of a separate province for Fata. Most tribal leaders support the idea of a fifth province. Another opinion, supported by the ANP, says it should be merged into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). The third view supported by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) has called for an elected Fata council that should decide the future of Fata.

Jan Afridi’s group, considered friendly opposition for the government, held reservations about not being represented in the committee. Talking to The Express Tribune, Afridi said that many members of the PCNP were ‘irrelevant’ and wrongly appointed to their positions. He said that the 27,000 square kilometre area of Fata deserved to be a new province but if they were not taken into confidence about the issue then they would vote against it.

Ex-senator and member of JUI, Hafiz Rasheed also demanded a separate province for Fata and representation in the PCNP. Rasheed said that the tribal community had its own separate culture and that it was within their rights to acquire one. He criticised the government for leaving residents of Fata unrepresented in the committee.

Zahir Sahah Safi, a lawyer and general secretary of Fata Reforms Movement said Fata is the ‘fifth unit of the federation’ and it was in their constitutional rights to be taken on board in the committee. “Unfortunately when there is any amendment or other constitutional matter in parliament, Fata’s representation is always ignored and all its important issue are always handled without the voice of its people.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Breaking the deadlock: PML-N wants to lead provinces panel</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/429587/breaking-the-deadlock-pml-n-wants-to-lead-provinces-panel</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/429587/breaking-the-deadlock-pml-n-wants-to-lead-provinces-panel#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Sep 12 00:57:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zia.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=429587</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Demands all members should be from Punjab; says it wants PPP to share ‘political credit’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A day after the opposition rejected the government’s commission on new provinces, the ruling party reportedly launched renewed efforts to end the deadlock.


The efforts, it appears, may be bearing fruit.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded the chairmanship of the new provinces’ commission and wants the platform to be an all-Punjab body, with members from other provinces expelled, said top officials in the PML-N while speaking to The Express Tribune on Friday.

The commission is currently headed by Senator Farhatullah Babar, who is also the spokesperson for President Asif Ali Zardari and hails from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Sharing political credit

The PML-N does not want to ‘spoil’ the creation of the proposed South Punjab province, one official from the party said.

All the opposition was expecting from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was to execute the idea in a way that makes it look like a ‘national decision,’ rather than that of the government, another PML-N leader said.

“We want the government to equally share the political credit with us … we will not like to be seen as a villain in the region,” the leader added.

According to sources, the fresh demand was conveyed to the government during a meeting between PPP stalwart and Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah, and PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday.

PML-N spokespersons were contacted for either confirming or denying the information but they refused to offer any comments.

Govt mulls over demand

It was not immediately known if the PPP would give PML-N the chairmanship of the commission but there were strong indications that the government was at least contemplating the demand.

In what may be the most obvious indication, a meeting of the commission scheduled for Friday to draft its terms of references was put off to give backchannel efforts between the PPP and PML-N some more time to break the deadlock.

Sources said an informal meeting of top PPP leaders was held at the Parliament House with Law Minister Farooq H Naek and commission chair Farhatullah Babar.

Khursheed Shah, who held overnight talks with PML-N’s Dar, was also present at the meeting along with secretary National Assembly and a top official of the law ministry.

Sources said the meeting discussed the implications of the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly this Wednesday, opposing the commission.

According to the Constitution, any move to alter the boundaries of a province has to be initiated in the assembly of the same province.  Talking to media after the meeting, Farhatullah Babar attempted to downplay the impact of Punjab Assembly’s resolution, saying it would not stop the commission from proceeding with the task from next week.

The Friday meeting was postponed, not cancelled, because of unavailability of some members, Babar said.

He added he would personally contact the PML-N leadership and party’s members to the commission to ensure their attendance at future meetings.


Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>‘PML-Q supports South Punjab province’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/429461/%e2%80%98pml-q-supports-south-punjab-province%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/429461/%e2%80%98pml-q-supports-south-punjab-province%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 Aug 12 23:41:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=429461</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Parvez Elahi receiving NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[“We are working for the creation of a South Punjab province purely for administrative reasons,” Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi said on Friday.


In a statement issued on Friday the deputy prime minister said he had discussed the matter with National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi during a meeting at Elahi’s house on Friday. He said they had exchanged views regarding the prevailing political situation in the country and the next general elections.

Elahi said that during his term as the chief minister he had provided an unprecedented amount of development funds for the people of South Punjab. The deputy PM said that his party was the first to adopt a resolution for the South Punjab province on May 5, 2010.

He hoped that the creation of new province will help solve the problems of the people of the region.

“We are also in favour of a Hazara province and are working for it,” he said.  Elahi said that the PML-Q had been speaking for the deprived and the oppressed in the society.

Kundi said the PPP and the PML-Q ‘will not rest until the people of the region were given their rights’. He said that several PML-N MNAs from South Punjab did not agree with the policies the party was pursuing.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>We oppose new provinces on ethnic lines: Pir Pagara</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428750/we-oppose-new-provinces-on-ethnic-lines-pir-pagara</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428750/we-oppose-new-provinces-on-ethnic-lines-pir-pagara#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 12 21:17:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=428750</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[“No single political party will win the upcoming elections, and a coalition government will be formed in 2013.”]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The government should avoid confrontation by initiating debate over formation of new provinces, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional would oppose division of provinces on ethnic lines. The PML-F chief Pir Pagara expressed these views on Thursday.


“People will start demanding provinces from every nook and corner of the country if provinces are divided on ethnic lines. The parliament should be allowed to deal with the issue of new provinces.”

The spiritual leader of the Hur community added that the incumbent Pakistan Peoples Party government will continue to work until the caretaker setup is put in place by the next three months. “No single political party will win the upcoming elections, and a coalition government will be formed in 2013,” predicted the PML-F leader.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2012.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>New demarcations: Only Punjab can take decision, says Nisar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428265/new-demarcations-only-punjab-can-take-decision-says-nisar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428265/new-demarcations-only-punjab-can-take-decision-says-nisar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 12 00:03:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qamar.zaman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=428265</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[&quot;How can people belonging to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa decide matters pertaining to Punjab,” said Nisar.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution against the formation of a parliamentary commission formed to carve out new provinces in Punjab, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) continued its boycott of the controversial commission.


The commission, headed by Senator Farhatullah Babar, held its second meeting on Wednesday to frame its rules of business and prepare the terms of reference, and also decided to move forward with its work in the absence of the PML-N.

On Wednesday, the commission decided to formally invite experts and member of civil society for input and suggestions to help complete the commission’s task.

Interestingly, the commission also decided to hold meetings behind closed doors. “The decision was taken so that the commission could work with concentration,” said a statement released to explain the logic behind in-camera sessions.

The decision to go ahead with the commission meeting only increased the opposition’s criticism over the panel. Talking to the media outside parliament, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan decried the composition of the commission, while pointing towards the presence of Haji Adeel and Farhatullah Babar from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Dr Farooq Sattar from Sindh.

Nisar contended that only Punjab could take decisions about its division while terming the commission the “Zardari Commission”.

“How can people belonging to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa decide matters pertaining to Punjab,” said Nisar, adding that the Awami National Party (ANP) should be concerned with the Hazara province and not interfere in the matters of Punjab.

In an apparent slight to Farhatullah Babar, Nisar said Babar was merely the presidential spokesperson, adding that his party was ready to form new provinces but a national commission must be formed in consultation with opposition parties.

After the meeting, Senator Babar said that that the PML-N had not responded to the commission’s invitation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>New provinces controversy: Amid ruckus, Punjab rejects commission</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428263/new-provinces-controversy-amid-ruckus-punjab-rejects-commission</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428263/new-provinces-controversy-amid-ruckus-punjab-rejects-commission#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 12 23:28:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=428263</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Punjab Assembly resolution calls for a new all-inclusive panel.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The issue of new provinces has brought Punjab and the centre at loggerheads.


Fists were clenched, punches thrown and abuses hurled in the hallowed hall of the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday as lawmakers, with a majority vote, passed a resolution rejecting the formation and proceedings of the national commission on the formation of two new provinces in Punjab.

The resolution demanded the federal government immediately withdraw the notification of the commission constituted to deliberate the formation of a South Punjab and Bahawalpur province.

The session started an hour and 19 minutes later than its scheduled time of 10 am, with the speaker allowing opposition members to deliver their speeches on the issue of South Punjab.

After a few speeches though, the speaker attempted to shift to government business but was besieged by opposition members who created a ruckus and approached the dais.

Despite the uproar, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah succeeded in getting the Information Technology University of the Punjab Bill 2012 passed by the house. The bill, passed earlier, had been rejected by Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa who raised objections over it.

The speaker then suspended the rules of procedure and allowed Sanaullah to present a resolution against the national commission on new provinces. The resolution was passed by the house with a majority vote.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Service Tribunals Bill 2012 and the Punjab Local Government Bill 2012 were also introduced in the house.

The resolution rejected the establishment of the commission, constituted by the National Assembly speaker on August 16 for the formation of two new provinces in Punjab – South Punjab and Bahawalpur – on grounds that it is “contrary to the spirit of the resolutions passed by the Punjab Assembly on May 9, 2012” on the same issue.

The resolution demanded an “immediate withdrawal of this nominated commission … and its denotification.”

It also demanded the federal government “form a national commission in which all stakeholders should be given representation.”

Talking to the media outside the assembly, Sanaullah said after the passage of the resolution the commission has lost its authenticity and legality. He asked the federal government to stop the commission from working immediately. PPP Deputy Opposition Leader in PA Shaukat Mehmood Basra and MPA Ehsanul Haq Naulatia said the opposition pointed out the quorum to the speaker, so the passage of the resolution and the bill is illegal.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>New provinces</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428018/new-provinces-4</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428018/new-provinces-4#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 12 17:26:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=428018</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It is integral that an important decision is made through parliament, by taking all on board, especially opposition.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Carving out more provinces in Pakistan is not a new demand. The PPP-led government has been rallying for the formation of a new province in southern Punjab for Seraiki speakers. President Asif Ali Zardari had directed that a commission be formed in light of the resolutions passed in the National and provincial assemblies on the issue. As far as administrative purposes and the wishes of the local people are concerned, more provinces can be considered, but the way to do that is to have a national consensus and take everyone on board. Regrettably, the PPP-led government is moving ahead with the newly-convened commission on new provinces in a manner that seems to suggest it is bulldozing the issue, perhaps with the next election in mind.

In the case of Punjab, the PML-N is not just important by virtue of being the country’s second largest mainstream party but because it also runs the province’s government. Thus it was disconcerting to see the centre’s dismissive attitude vis-à-vis the PML-N, with one federal minister indicating that the process would continue “even if the PML-N does not participate in the process and if the Punjab Assembly does not nominate its members (for the newly-convened commission)”. Another federal minister has said that the commission was formed in light of the Punjab Assembly’s own resolution on the matter. However, it can have little value if the PML-N does not nominate members to it because any decision made by it will not have wide backing, something that is essential for a matter as sensitive as forming a new province.

It is worth mentioning that the PPP seems to be banking on gaining votes in southern Punjab, and to perhaps undercut even the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf , by strongly backing a new province there. That said, it is also fair to say that any other party would have done the same, prior to an election year, but that doesn’t justify the approach. If the government approaches the PML-N again and takes their reservations into consideration, the PML-N may end its boycott. In a democracy, it is integral that an important decision like making new provinces is made through parliament and by taking all sides on board, especially the opposition.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>PA passes resolution against new provinces commission</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427805/unanimous-pa-passes-resolution-against-new-provinces-commission</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427805/unanimous-pa-passes-resolution-against-new-provinces-commission#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 12 07:59:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sidrah.moiz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=427805</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Resolution passed amid commotion that started as the representatives of the opposition started raising their voices.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A resolution moved by Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah against the formation of the new provinces’ commission was passed in the Punjab Assembly, Express News reported on Wednesday.

The resolution was passed amid a commotion that started as the representatives of the opposition started raising their voice.

After Sanaullah read out the text of the resolution, the Punjab Assembly speaker, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, asked the attendants how many backed the resolution.

The attendants, in a roaring voice, said yes.

A commission for the creation of new provinces in Punjab was constituted by National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza – though only 12 of the 14 members of the commission have been notified.

Mirza had constituted the commission on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari. Earlier, the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly had approved the resolutions for the establishment of new provinces in Punjab with an overwhelming majority.

Sanaullah’s media talk videobombed by PPP MPA

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Rafat Sultana Dar made several appearances in front of the camera when Sanaullah was speaking to the media outside the Punjab Assembly.

Sanaullah, who was speaking amid chants of “Rana Sanaullah haaye haaye” pointed out at the MPA and said, “Look at the behavior exhibited by the PPP; this is the kind of democracy they want in the country.”

“The entire country is witnessing that PPP does not have anything except for a handful of insolent women, who are sent to the forefront in order to cry hoarse.”

Condemning their behaviour, the law minister said that the PPP was given enough time to speak in the assembly. “If you speak, while you are on your seat, people will not only listen to you but also respect your words.”

He added, “But, if you go to other people’s seats and attack them, then that’s not fair and should be condemned.”]]>
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			<title>'New provinces commission an election agenda of government'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427795/new-provinces-commission-an-election-agenda-of-government</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427795/new-provinces-commission-an-election-agenda-of-government#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 12 06:41:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sunara.nizami]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=427795</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rana Sanaullah says PML-N will not be a part of the 'divert-attention-from-Zardari commission'.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Terming the new provinces commission an election agenda of the incumbent government, Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanullah on Wednesday reiterated that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) will not be party to what he calls a “divert-attention-from-Zardari-corruption commission”.

The Punjab law minister was talking to the media in Lahore on the newly-formed commission for assessing and creating two new provinces in Punjab.

The PML-N, despite having passed the resolution for creating the south Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces itself in the Punjab Assembly, has refused to participate in the commission formed for the aforementioned purpose.

“This is a political agenda, an election agenda,” said Rana Sanaullah, adding, “We will not let this agenda be successful.”

Expressing immense displeasure upon Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson Farhatullah Babar’s appointment as the chairman of the commission, Sanaullah accused Babar of, for the past five years, “lying profusely while sitting in the Presidency” and “providing clarification after every corruption charge (against Zardari)”.

The law minister claimed that Babar worked to “defend (President Asif Ali) Zardari’s corruption”.

“We will reject this divert-attention-from-Zardari-corruption commission,” he added.

When asked what kind of commission Punjab wants, Sanaullah said, “A national commission, one that is formed by the leader of the house, that is the prime minister (Raja Pervaiz Ashraf), in consultation with the leader of the opposition.”

The commission, according to its representatives present in the first session held the previous day, comprises representation of all political parties and all provinces. Yet the PML-N refuse to participate in its proceedings.

Earlier, during its first session, commission representatives including Farhatullah Babar, Mutahidda Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Farooq Sattar and Member National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Dasti had repeatedly requested the PML-N to participate in the proceedings.

They said that it was a matter of giving the people of south Punjab their rights which they had been deprived of for the last 64 years and it was a sad affair that the PML-N refused to be a part of this historic opportunity.]]>
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			<title>New provinces in Punjab: Govt steamrollers ahead with carve up plans</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427679/new-provinces-in-punjab-govt-steamrollers-ahead-with-carve-up-plans</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427679/new-provinces-in-punjab-govt-steamrollers-ahead-with-carve-up-plans#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 12 23:37:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qamar.zaman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=427679</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tries to coax opposition into participation – but says work on new provinces will go on regardless.]]>
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				<![CDATA[As tensions flared again on Tuesday over the newly-convened commission on new provinces, the government threatened to steamroller ahead with its plans with or without the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) while claiming that it had enough consensual support for fulfilling its objectives.


The government scoffed at the PML-N’s move to boycott Tuesday’s maiden meeting of the commission, insisting that the party’s absence made no difference.

“There will be no deadlock even if the PML-N does not participate in the process and if the Punjab Assembly does not nominate its members (for the commission on the creation of new provinces),” Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah, who is also the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP’s) chief whip in the NA, told the media after the session.

Shah dismissed the notion that the opposition had virtually gone unrepresented as a consequence of the PML-N boycott. As proof, Shah cited the name of Senator Ghafoor Haideri of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) as being the eyes and ears of the opposition at the inaugural meeting.

The minister, however, pointed out that if there were any misgivings, on the part of the opposition, the PML-N could vote against the commission’s proposals when they come up before the National Assembly in the form of a report.

Additionally, Shah pointed out that the commission’s members had been tasked with convincing the PML-N to participate in the process.

When asked whether the commission would manage to finish the task of carving out provinces, Shah said: “The next assembly will do the job if it is not done now.”

The minister rejected outright the PML-N’s objections on the composition of the commission. “If the commission is renamed following objections of the PML-N, then every single standing committee will meet the same fate.”

Brushing aside PML-N’s allegations that the government had not consulted the opposition over the commission, he said that the leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate were formally asked for nominations. While Senator Ishaq Dar nominated one member, no response was received from Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan – only after which the speaker nominated opposition members herself.  “Rejection of nominations (for the commission) is like disgracing Parliament,” Shah added.

Earlier, nine out of 12 nominated members of the commission attended the session, since all three members from the PML-N – including Senator Rafiq Rajwana, Tehmina Daultana and Saud Majeed – remained conspicuously absent.

During the meeting, Senator Farhatullah Babar, who belongs to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, was made chairman of the commission. PPP’s Jamshed Dasti had proposed Babar as chairman and was seconded by other members.

Babar said that the commission had taken two key decisions during the first session. First, the commission will request members of the PML-N to participate in the proceedings. Second, the commission will meet again today (Wednesday) for framing and adopting draft rules to increase efficiency.

Babar made it clear that the commission was mandated with compiling a report on the creation of new provinces in Punjab only, since no other province had made such a request.  “This proposal (the passage of two resolutions) has come from Punjab itself; therefore, the work of the commission is limited to this province alone,” he added.

When asked why the commission’s members did not only consist of representatives from Punjab in this case, Babar said, “When you talk about creating a new province, it requires amending the Constitution. And the amendment of the Constitution cannot be handed over to any one province or political party.”

The commission was constituted by the National Assembly speaker on the directions of President Asif Ali Zardari to act upon resolutions passed by the lower house of parliament and the Punjab Assembly calling for a new ‘Janoobi Punjab’ (South Punjab) province and the revival of Bahawalpur’s status as a province.


Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Punjab Assembly: Agitation over commission on new provinces dominates house business</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427440/punjab-assembly-agitation-over-commission-on-new-provinces-dominates-house-business</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427440/punjab-assembly-agitation-over-commission-on-new-provinces-dominates-house-business#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 12 23:08:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=427440</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Speaker unmoved by opposition’s noise; treasury, opposition leaders trade insults.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The opposition uproar over nomination to the parliamentary comminsion on new provinces continued for the second day on Tuesday. The session started at 11:27am with a delay of one-and-a-half -hour and lasted for less than an hour.


Neglecting the shouting from the opposition benches, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan proceeded with the question hour. Today’s questions were about the Services and General Administration.

PPP’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader Shaukat Mehmood Basra sought to speak on a point of order but the Speaker snubbed him. At this Basra said that Tuesday was a private members’ day so other members should not try to dictate him. Saying this, he along with other opposition members then surrounded the Speaker’s dice and shouted at him. They also raised slogans against the government.

PPP’s Ehsanul Haq Naulatia tore a copy of the agenda of the house and threw it at the Speaker, while Basra, in the meantime, tried to snatch the Speaker’s mic, but was stopped by some treasury members. The pushing and shoving between the opposition and treasury members went on for some while. Desk thumping and yelling followed ending only when some opposition members pointed out the quorum. The session was then adjourned till Wednesday morning (today).

Follow up 

After the session, Leader of Opposition Raja Riaz told the media that he had submitted an application to the Speaker’s chamber seeking the formation of a medical board to examine Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who, he said, appeared to have contracted some mental disease.

He said unintelligent decisions by the chief minister were a matter of life and death, for example through management of public hospitals. He said Sharif suffered fits daily and had become incapable of making intelligent and reasonable decisions.

Riaz also said there was massive corruption in the development work in the Punjab.

PPP’s Parliamentary Leader Maj (retired) Zulfiqar Gondal said that the chief minister and his son, Hamza Shahbaz, had earned a poor reputation and should therefore be banned from visiting girls’ schools and college.

Responding to Riaz’s statement, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that it was actually Riaz who needed medical help.

He also said, “It is a matter of record that President Asif Ali Zardari has been a psychiatric patient.”

He said the PML-N supported the establishment of the South Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces.

The PML-N, he said, demanded formation of a national commission that brought together all the stakeholders. He said his party demanded equal representation of all political parties in the commission.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM ONLINE. PRESS GALLERY ON PAGE 14

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>New provinces: Babar named chairman, PML-N absent from first session</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427288/new-provinces-babar-named-chairman-pml-n-absent-from-first-session</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427288/new-provinces-babar-named-chairman-pml-n-absent-from-first-session#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Aug 12 08:53:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sunara.nizami]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=427288</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Babar, Sattar and Dasti, on behalf of commission, request PML-N to participate.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[As the first session of the commission for forming two new provinces in Punjab came to an end, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Farhatullah Babar was appointed its chairman, with Babar, Mutahidda Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Farooq Sattar and MNA Jamshed Dasti, all requesting Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) members to participate in the commission.

Babar, while outlining details of the first ever session of the commission, told the media that the resolutions passed in the National Assembly on May 21 and in the Punjab Assembly on May 9 were discussed in the session.

“Two decisions were taken in today’s session,” said Babar.

“Today it was decided that the commission will request members of Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) to, as per their nomination, participate in the commission so that the resolutions passed in the assemblies can be taken forward,” he said while elaborating on the first decision.

The second decision, according to him, was that the commission would meet again tomorrow “for framing draft rules and adopting them to increase our efficiency, as is the need for all commissions and committees.”

“Further developments will take place in the light of those rules,” said Babar.

Answering a question relating to creating provinces within other provinces, Babar said, “There have been no requests by other provinces. How can this commission go to other provinces and say it will form more provinces when they have not set forth any such proposals?”

“This proposal has come from Punjab itself; therefore, the work of the commission is limited to this province alone,” he added.

When asked why only representatives from Punjab could not form this commission alone, Babar said, “When you talk about creating a new province, it requires amending the constitution and amendment of the constitution cannot be handed over to any one province or political party.”

“Amendments take place with agreement from all parties and provinces and this will hopefully happen with consensus,” said Babar.

Farooq Sattar said that the beginning of these sessions created a “historic opportunity” that should not be squandered. “We have been given one month since the formation of the commission,” he said.

“We should remove all hurdles in the creation of the south Punjab province and create it as soon as possible.”

He congratulated Farhatullah Babar for being elected chairman and assured the people of south Punjab that “we will not hold back and will use all our resources, energy and time, with consensus (form the province).”

Sattar too, appealed to PML-N to participate in this commission.

“All political parties and assemblies are representatives in this commission,” said Sattar. “PML-N representatives should also come from the Senate or National Assembly and whatever needs to be discussed can be talked over in the commission (meeting), be it for the south Punjab province, or the other resolution for the Bahawalpur province,” he said.

Member National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Dasti added to Farooq Sattar’s statements saying that the provincial issue was a national one.

“All parties have assembled for PML-N’s own resolution that they passed in the Punjab Assembly, they requested the federal government to constitute a national commission,” said Dasti.

“South Punjab and Siraiki people’s 64 years of depravation of rights are being assessed and all parties except PML-N are present here,” he said adding, “We hope that PML-N will take part in this commission for the betterment of the nation and its people.”]]>
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			<title>New provinces: Punjab seeks to halt commission proceedings</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427225/new-provinces-punjab-seeks-to-halt-commission-proceedings</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/427225/new-provinces-punjab-seeks-to-halt-commission-proceedings#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 12 22:44:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=427225</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The proposed new provinces are South Punjab and Bahawalpur.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan has sent a letter to National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, demanding a halt to the proceedings of the commission on two new provinces, sources told The Express Tribune. The proposed new provinces are South Punjab and Bahawalpur.


Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)’s President Nawaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and their legal wizards drafted the letter late Sunday night, and forwarded it Monday morning to Rana Iqbal Khan. The letter is now to be forwarded to Fehmida in response to her letter which she wrote three weeks ago.

The commission – comprising six senators and as many MNAs – is scheduled to have its maiden meeting today (Tuesday) to discuss the formation of two new provinces. The PML-N’s three members on the committee – MNAs Saud Majeed and Tehmina Daultana and Senator Rafique Rajwana – have been told by their party to stay away from the commission’s meeting.

Draft letter

According to sources who shared details of the draft of the letter, three points have been raised. Firstly, the Punjab Assembly speaker requested that the proceedings of the commission be stopped immediately.

Secondly, the speaker complained to Fehmida of not providing him the official copy of her directions to form a commission on President Asif Ali Zardari’s reference.

Thirdly, Rana Iqbal pointed out that the Punjab Assembly’s resolution on two new provinces called for a discussion on the formation of other provinces in the country as well, besides those proposed in Punjab. He called for a truly ‘national’ commission which includes all stakeholders in the country.

Sources added that Nawaz vetted the letter and asked the speaker to forward it to Fehmida.

Court application?

Those familiar with the development also said that Nawaz directed Nisar to conduct a press conference in Islamabad over the proceedings of the commission to dispel the impression that the PML-N was “not concerned with the formation of a South Punjab province”. They said Nisar is likely to address the press conference today.

Sources added that the letter is actually part of the PML-N’s strategy to take the matter to the court. If the commission does not stop proceedings after receiving the letter, the provincial assembly speaker will then move the court.

Earlier, while talking to The Express Tribune, Rana confirmed that he would move the court against the commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Body on new provinces to meet despite Punjab’s objections</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/426405/body-on-new-provinces-to-meet-despite-punjab%e2%80%99s-objections</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/426405/body-on-new-provinces-to-meet-despite-punjab%e2%80%99s-objections#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Aug 12 04:55:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=426405</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Meeting set for August 28; Punjab CM hits out at federal govt.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The federal and Punjab government are poised for a potentially explosive showdown, with the centre pushing ahead on the key issue of new provinces despite protests by the country’s largest federating unit.


Punjab had announced that it had reservations about the composition of a newly-constituted commission tasked by the centre with finalising the creation of new provinces – with the Punjab assembly speaker going as far as saying that it could take the matter to court.

However, the commission has ignored these threats and objections – and, on Saturday, announced that its first meeting will take place next week, on August 28. This is despite the PML-N’s stand that it will abstain from the proceedings of the meeting. The absence of PML-N, which currently governs Punjab and is the leading opposition in the centre, from the major national undertaking is set to cause plenty of conflict.

Following the federal government’s announcement, Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, took to the micro-blogging website, Twitter, to vent his frustration.

“Federal government neither consulted on new provinces nor took us into confidence regarding national commission for division of Punjab,” said a tweet posted on the official account of Shahbaz Sharif.

“If the division of provinces is inevitable, a uniform policy should be pursued throughout the country,” said another tweet from Shahbaz.

The issue

In July, President Asif Ali Zardari asked Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza to formally initiate the process of carving out two separate provinces in Punjab.

On August 16, the speaker announced a 14-member commission which included six members each from Senate and National Assembly. The remaining two members were supposed to be nominated by the speaker of the Punjab Assembly, a request which was ignored by Punjab Assembly Speaker, Rana Muhammad Iqbal.

However, the PML-N has, at the last moment, pushed for more representation for Punjab in the commission, which has the all-important mandate to look into issues relating to the fair distribution of economic and financial resources, demarcation, allocation or readjustment of seats in the National Assembly, Senate and the concerned provincial assembly. In addition to this, they are supposed to look into the allocation of seats in the new province on basis of population, including seats of minorities and women among other constitutional, legal and administrative matters.

The PML-N has also said that it is not only Punjab that should be carved up – insisting that the government recognise the demand for the creation of a Hazara province in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well. In addition to the PML-N, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has also pushed this point. However, the proposal was strongly opposed by the Awami National Party (ANP), which is in power in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and also a coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

In May, the Punjab Assembly passed two resolutions pertaining to the creation of a South Punjab province and the restoration of Bahawalpur province.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Punjab Assembly speaker to move LHC against new provinces’ commission</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/425663/punjab-assembly-speaker-to-move-lhc-against-new-provinces%e2%80%99-commission</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/425663/punjab-assembly-speaker-to-move-lhc-against-new-provinces%e2%80%99-commission#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 12 08:39:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[abdul.manan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=425663</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rana Iqbal says as the speaker of Punjab Assembly, he would first move the LHC and then approach the apex court.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Punjab Assembly speaker said on Friday that he would move Lahore High Court (LHC) against the formation of a commission for carving out new provinces out of Punjab.

A commission for the creation of new provinces in Punjab was constituted by National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza – though only 12 of the 14 members of the commission have been notified.

The two remaining names are still awaited from the Punjab Assembly, which has to nominate two provincial legislators to the commission.

Speaking to a few journalists in his chamber, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal said that he would neither nominate the two members nor own the commission formed by the federal government.

Iqbal said that as the speaker of the Punjab Assembly, he would first move the LHC and then approach the apex court.

He said that commission’s scheduled meeting on August 28 was a conspiracy against the province of Punjab.

The Punjab Assembly speaker demanded that Punjab should be given representation of 24 MPAs in the commission.]]>
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