'Consensus on new provinces in sight'

Defence minister says political parties will be given room to reach consensus

ISLAMABAD:

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has indicated that consultations on the creation of new provinces are moving towards consensus, saying an agreement on the issue could bring a progressive change to the country's political landscape.

He also suggested that the proposed system could begin taking shape in the coming period, while maintaining that discussions were still underway and several details had yet to be settled.

Speaking in an interview with a private news channel on Sunday, Asif was asked about reports of efforts to develop a broader political consensus on creating new provinces, particularly in the wake of two recent high-level meetings involving the president.

The defence minister said he had no inside information about the discussions and "even if there was, obviously I cannot spill it on a show". However, sharing his personal assessment, he said the consultations appeared to be moving in the direction indicated by the anchor, namely, building consensus on the creation of new provinces.

"In my opinion, the political landscape will change very progressively if this consensus is built and these [new] provinces are created," he added.

Asif said he believed it would not take much longer to reach an agreement, saying the process was "moving towards culmination".

He said he was unaware of how the process would culminate and declined to comment on whether a referendum on the issue was likely to be held in the National Assembly, cautioning that such a discussion could create "complications".

Asked about the impression that the push for new provinces was being driven by certain quarters, Asif rejected the suggestion, at least in relation to his own advocacy of the idea.

He also expressed the personal view that "the new year will see the new system, God-willing", adding that the process will "take some shape in 2026".

Asif said there was "no need for anyone to feel politically threatened" by the prospect of new provinces, arguing that political ethos was not static and continued to evolve.

He also regretted that the changes concerning local governments envisaged under the 18th Amendment had not been implemented.

He said political parties could be accommodated on relatively minor issues to facilitate an agreement through a "quid pro quo" arrangement, stressing that no one would have the decision "forced" on them.

Asked whether the effort was also being made to accommodate PTI founder Imran Khan, Asif suggested that an agreement on the proposed system could potentially create a "window of opportunity" for the jailed former prime minister to return to mainstream politics.

Offering his "political advice", the PML-N leader said Imran should not resist the proposal, arguing that he had no "fundamental objection" to the creation of new provinces.