PTI split over Hazara province resolution

MPA Sajjad Barkwal rebels against K-P Assembly move, says party leadership was not consulted

PESHAWAR:

Divisions have emerged within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly's recent unanimous resolution calling for the creation of a separate Hazara province.

PTI MPA Sajjad Barkwal strongly opposed the move during an Assembly session, accusing party leadership of lacking consultation on the matter and vowing not to accept the province's division.

In his address to the assembly, Barkwal described the proposed split of K-P as unacceptable, questioning whether party supremo Imran Khan or senior leadership had been taken into confidence. He expressed alarm over the opacity surrounding the resolution, asking who had initiated or approved it and why assembly members like himself were unaware of any such proposal on Hazara province.

Barkwal emphasized that he and like-minded colleagues would not support the resolution, highlighting concerns about the province's integrity.

The resolution, passed unanimously in December 2025 and tabled by PTI's Nazir Ahmad Abbasi with cross-party support including PPP members, urged the federal government to initiate constitutional amendments under Article 239 for a new Hazara province. It aimed to address long-standing demands based on cultural, historical, and administrative grounds in the Hazara region.

The controversy unfolded during a broader Assembly session chaired by Muhammad Israr, which covered multiple issues. Discussions focused heavily on local government challenges, including severe financial crises in municipal bodies (TMAs). PML-N MPA Amina Sardar highlighted thousands of employees and pensioners going unpaid due to fund shortages, forcing families into hardship. She criticized TMAs as hubs of corruption when staff lack incentives.

Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam responded that TMAs are autonomous and often manage their own salaries and pensions, with the provincial government providing grants where needed as Rs1.3 billion disbursed so far. He acknowledged misuse of funds in some cases, where grants were diverted from salaries to other heads. Alam also announced new lease rules for municipal shops and properties, scrapping old notifications and shifting to market-rate leasing to address low rental income.

Opposition members, including ANP's Arbab Usman, blamed 2022 amendments for diluting local representatives' powers post-2021 elections, leading to bureaucratic dominance and stalled development. Other points raised included delays in Public Service Commission appointments and calls for modern skill programs for women beyond traditional crafts.

The minister agreed on the need to expand women's empowerment into IT, nursing, and modern sectors, referring the matter to a standing committee. Issues like expired funds in Social Welfare, contract extensions, and motorway conditions were also deferred to committees for scrutiny.

The session began with Quran recitation and the national anthem, featuring question hour on women's development, social welfare, fiscal discipline, and NFC awards. While the Hazara resolution sparked internal PTI friction, broader debates underscored ongoing governance and financial strains in the province's local bodies.