MPA Sardar Mohsin Khan Leghari submitted the resolution in assembly secretariat.
The move follows a statement by PML-Nawaz’s (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif during his October 19 public address in DG Khan that he would support new provinces, including South Punjab and Bahawalpur.
The text of the resolution reads that the House unanimously suggests that federal government amend the constitution to give South Punjab the status of a separate province.
Leghari said that the assembly secretariat had earlier termed a similar resolution a matter for the National Assembly and Senate since it requires an amendment to the constitution.
(Read: More subas? — II)
He said that according to Sub Article 4 of Article 239 of the constitution, both the National Assembly and Senate needed to pass a bill, with a two-thirds majority, in favour of formation of a new province. “Before the president signs the bill the relevant provincial assembly must also pass and endorse the bill passed by the National Assembly and Senate with a two-thirds majority as well,” he told The Tribune.
The PML-Q MPA added that the law is silent on the stage at which a provincial assembly could endorse the bill.
He was confident that if the Punjab Assembly passes the resolution, the bill would find an easy passage in the Centre.
Leghari said PML-Q had submitted the resolution more than a dozen times, “Every time, the secretariat rejected it over technicalities.” He said The Express Tribune that PML-Q’s resolution had made it on the agenda only once, on June 25, 2010, but the session was prorogued after initial discussion. He said that the resolution was a litmus test for the PML-N government. If it genuinely supports the demand for a separate province, the resolution will be on agenda at the next session.
Asked if it was appropriate for a political party to seek an amendment to the constitution without first making it a part of their manifesto prior to contesting the election, he said that the present situation was exceptional, since all parties in the Punjab Assembly appeared ready to recognise South Punjab as a new province.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (16)
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@shiarevenge: sikhs are also humans are need protection from UN and Indian Federal and Chinese government. another fake indian. Shias of Pakistan are part of pakistan. Just like Sunnis in pakistan are being killed in terror attacks so are shias.
punjabis need to treat south punjabis, mohajirs and balochis with respect.
Good...while your at it why not truly decentralize the government; let the Punjabi ' federal govt.' hold only a select few portfolios while give the more important and localized ones to the provinces...so that the self-serving leaders from Punjab stop giving us Punjabis a bad name and the corrupt leaders from the rest of the provinces and the federating units stop blaming their own ineptitude on the honest to god Punjabi who pays his taxes, works hard but still has to listen to the abuse directed at him.
@Ammad: Its Not Punjab's headache if the CMs of other provinces have failed to guard their local interests.
This is political move. Its never in the interest of the people belonging to Southern Punjab. When they do not have much resources to manage it, it will create problem for stability of country.
Whoever will do this nasty job will bear the consequences in near future. Just to add up new provincial machinary full of greedy lot for more provices is not the right decision for a healthy Pakistan. This will help in increasing more loot of national wealth by certain mafia who has already occupied main resources of Pakistan leaving nothing for the 97% population in Pakistan. This will be a GREAT CRIME and neither people of Punjab will tolerate it nor they will let this done for other provinces. Pakistan cannot feed too many corrupt governments.
@Realist
Well we should have thought of that when we were taking all the natural resources from across the country to benefit Punjab primarily - yes I know it has the largest population, but the development is not even proportional .
PS: I am all for Division of Punjab. Eventually it will be PUNJAB getting more Shares in NFC More Water , more Seats in Senate & Jobs Quota. ;)
@Ammad: Its about taking Equal Measures Across the country! The sole reason behind this move is 'political mileage' Not Administrative.
@Khurram
I have been to a few areas; Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Badin, Sukkur & Tando moh.
You're actually missing the point. The people of these areas have no resentment against Sindhi's, in-fact, all their resentment is also for 'takht-e-lahore-'!
Let's not debate right or wrong - the resentment is there, and for that there needs to be a remedy. In the context of punjab, historically and practically it needs to be divided.
Ammad
You obviously have never been to Urban Sindh have you?
Let's improve governance within the provinces rather than talking about dividing the federating units.
@ Realist
Personally i'm a Punjabi, and that too a Lahori, but why would Sindh need a division? This is not a matter of tit for tat. There is a lot of history and actual reasons including the sentiment of the people (which you'd probably have to go and see for yourself - walk chalkings 'asaan kaidi takhte lahore day'!) . There is no comparison.
So the new move is here! PPP should also submit a resolution to divide Sindh if they are 'that' honest.
PML-N should not oppose the resolution