Opp seeks APC on national issues

Leaders reject proposal for new provinces

KARACHI:

On Sunday, leaders of various opposition parties called for an All Parties Conference (APC) to develop a joint national narrative on constitutional supremacy, strengthening parliament, provision of justice, issues facing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, restoration of peace and provincial unity.

They also stressed that national and political issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than force and declared they would not accept any decision regarding the creation of new provinces.

The leaders spoke at a condolence reference organised by the Balochistan National Party (BNP) at the Karachi Press Club to mark the fifth death anniversary of veteran national leader Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal and the first death anniversary of the victims of the Shahwani Stadium tragedy.

Speakers paid tribute to Mengal, the BNP founder, for his struggle for people's rights.

The reference was addressed by BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, National Assembly Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Senate Leader of the Opposition Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja

JUI-F leader Maulana Rashid Soomro, Sindh United Party (SUP) President Syed Zain Shah, National Party (NP) leader Kabeer Muhammad Shahi, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, ANP leader Asghar Khan Achakzai and others also spoke.

Achakzai, who also heads PkMAP, said the country was unable to properly manage its existing four provinces, yet there was now talk of creating new provinces. "We want to live with freedom rather than as slaves," he said, calling for an APC of all political parties.

Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the Constitution had been framed before governments were formed and stressed that the country could not function without the rule of law. .

Asad Qaiser said the people of Balochistan had a right over their own resources. He pointed out that there was no gas in Sui despite the area being a major source of gas, while gas was available in Lahore.

SUP's Shah said all political leaders had jointly framed the 1973 Constitution, but it was not being implemented today. The people of Balochistan have the right to control their resources, he added.

PTI's Salman Akram Raja said the Constitution required a two-thirds majority resolution from the concerned provincial assembly before a province could be divided. He said the political leadership would not allow provincial rights to be undermined through a possible new constitutional amendment.

NP's Shahi said the issues facing Balochistan could be resolved through dialogue while JUI-F's Rashid Soomro said his party stood with the people of Balochistan in their struggle for their rights.