ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, bashing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), asked how can a party which has never had a single councilor in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa or Punjab ask for new provinces in these regions with its leader “sitting in London”.
Khan was talking to the media outside the Parliament on Thursday when he said that there was a particular party which was creating drama in the National Assembly over the creation of new provinces. “The party’s terror can only stay on the people of Karachi… A party in Karachi cannot make provinces in other provinces.”
He also said that provinces are not made by giving speeches or by slinging mud on the opposing parties, they are made through commissions.
He added that a commission should be formed for the creation of provinces and a new province can only be formed after the provincial assembly, national assembly and the senate approves it as per the laws.
The opposition leader reiterated his party Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz’s support for the creation of Hazara, Bahawalpur and the south Punjab province.
ANP chief criticises MQM
Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali also lashed out at the MQM and said that a party that had never had a councilor in the Hazara region or the Seraiki belt was standing up and talking about dividing the provinces.
Wali said that he was aware of their intentions and targets, and also added that they will never be able to achieve them.
He said that if the Punjab Assembly is not asked and a Seraiki bill comes forward, his party will be against it, adding that it was their right according to the constitution.
Wali said that people who were demanding new provinces had brought up a non-issue at a time when the country was going through so much.
“If you hate the Pakhtun name so much, what are you going to do with those sitting in Hazara,” said Wali after stating that the region had a majority Pakhtun population.
'MQM is Pakistan's party'
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar responded to Khan’s statements by saying that harsh statements were being made against his party.
“They are terming us as Karachi’s party… If we don’t have a seat in Punjab, then you don’t have any in Sindh either. Why are you coming to Sindh and talking about its problems?” he remarked.
He said that his party is “Pakistan’s party” and wherever there is injustice in the country his party will get up to solve it. “Pakistan is as much ours as it is yours… You don’t have any authority to judge who is Pakistani and who is not.”
On the creation of new provinces, he said that the MQM has brought up the issues of the people on institutional grounds and he is sure that the party’s demands will be passed by a majority in the house.
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COMMENTS (71)
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A formula across the board should be applied in Pakistan, based on instability, insecurity, and economic deprivation. Karachi is the most instable and insecure city of Pakistan .The Idea to divide Karachi in to manageable four portions along with the Sindh’s underdeveloped territory will create four small provinces providing better Safety, Security, equal opportunity and Economic wellbeing uplift of underdeveloped areas of Sind, this should be applied to other mega cities of Pakistan also.
@Shaan
The royalty of Tarbella dam belongs to district Swabi as where the power house is located . Also parts of Hazara where they are about to create new division called Abaseen want to be still with KP.
There is absolutely no harm in creating new units I am not against that, was just conveying you the message that the figure of 120 billion is not authentic and Hazara had the most representation in the assembly in terms of chief ministers. The provincial assembly as per constitution has the right forum and If it decides for the new province most welcome.
as a proud karachiate ! I don't want to see the division of sindh,, as sindh dharti has given alot to our mother land pakistan. at the same time, I wanna look forward to have local body system back and ordinary folks like Syed mustafa kamal do jobs to improve the life's of aam Pakistani. and as per the constitution of Pakistan, every member of national assembly or senate, has the right to raise any point, debate on any issues related to any specific area of pakistan.
@ Ali Tanoli!
If I have understood you correctly, you agree with the idea of making new provinces. its your opinion based on your knowledge. What you are saying is if I belong to certain ABC community the we as a community should have our own province so we get more employment? By the way as far as mineral royalty is concerned, "Pakistan ki natural resources i.e. gas, gold, gem stones and oil etc pe har Pakistani ka haq hai".
I tell you from my knowledge, how things can work better without making provinces.I live in Scotland which can be considered as a province of UK if compare with Pakistan. All across Scotland, there are several counties and each county has few cities. Each city has a council which take cares of the issues of the people living in the city. This seems to work better if you compare it with India.
MQM is a regional political party. thats a fact. it represents urdu speaking population in sindh and thats the fact they accept. demand for new province in other regions should not come from them. they are using this as a political gimmick. any way demand for a new province should be placed in provincial assembly first. if they have representation in repective assemblies let them put forward a resolution there. if they have so much courage I would love to see them ask for a division of sindh.
For those who think that MQM is a national party, please stand corrected that it is not even a provincial party as it simply represents one ethnic group in one province.
It does not make sense to create more provinces. Think about this, each province means a new governor, a chief minister, a cabinet of 20-25 ministers, a new high court, a new assembly building. Think of all the associated staff that goes with all that. The only purpose that a new province will serve will be to increase the expenditure of the government and give a bunch of individuals with political aspirations to rob the people of Pakistan by coming into positions of power.
In fact we should start by working on doing exactly the opposite, i.e. focus on reducing government and making life simpler for the population of Pakistan.
Muhammad Usman is right in his post that adding two more provinces in the Punjab would simply provide 50 more senate seats to the Punjab. This would throw out the balance of power in the upper house as each province has 25 senate members each and hence have a 25% representation. With three new provinces the number of senate seats will go up to 175, with Punjab controlling 43% instead of 25%.
@kulsoom khan: Because the word mohajir means refugee. A refugee has a temporary status in the host country and may after a period of time integrate into the local populace. If the "Mohajirs" have integrated, then by definition they are Sindhis. If they have not integrated and are still "Mohajirs" then by definition they have limited rights and need to go back to their home country.
i am from hazara , KP and believe it or not we love MQM for their solid stance of new Hazara province . i am die hard supporter of PTI but MQM got a good atleast better than PML n presence in Hazara region at the moment ,
It is the demand of the people of Hazara, Bhawalpur and Southern Punjab and if MQM has raised their voice in National Assembly so what is the problem in it. Not only PPP, PMLQ, JUIF, FATA is supporting this but also PTI has joined hand with the Hazara thereek and Javed Hashmi also supported it. So now its time for PMLN and ANP to stop giving lousy arguments and support this bill otherwise they will be totally rejected in the next elections. All the credit goes to the people of Hazara, Bhawalpur and Southern Punjab and also to MQM.
PML-N & ANP, foolingly exposed themselves naked, by oppsoing the new provinces. Saraiki & Hazara Provinces shall make Pakistan stronger but PML-N & ANP weaker. The announcement & support for the new provinces is a big blow to PML-N & ANP's vested interest.
All the political parties are using the new provinces creation for thier own political interests.they are all blaming each others.if MQM support the creation of seraiki and hazara provinces then in the near future they will demand of a new karachi province that will lead to protests and even riots in the sindh and then the situation will be out of control. i havent any experience but i suggest that new provinces should be created on administrative bases rather than ethnicity bases. At least 4 provinces in punjab 3 in sindh 3 in KPK and 2 or 3 provinces should me made in balochistan. Also FATA should be given as a province status. for this purpose the formation of a commission is necessary. jiye zardariiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
@MAD: Then it means in National Assembly on Federal Topics could be discussed. NA could discuss each and every topic whether it is Federal or Provincial.
I said it before this is the mosy dangerous amendement
why cant people follow constitution for making anew province.
Dont blame punjab tommorrw if fedreal govt dedides to make new provinces as propsed in this amendemnt by passing provincial legislator. The ultimate loser will be SINDH.
PUNJAB will get 50 more seats in senate( seraiki and bhawalpur). Hazara will get 25 .
Illplanned amnedements have dangerous outcome.
Brainstorming is needed..
Isn’t it more logical that the demand for dividing Punjab and KPK come from the people of these provinces? Who could better understand the complexities of these regions and the sentiments of their people than their elected representatives? And then what is the big hurry? Why MQM has all of a sudden decided to interfere in the affairs of areas which they, at least for now, doesn’t at any level represent? Isn’t it that they have another trick up their sleeve? An organization that is not willing to even consider a mega city like Karachi into 5 districts is working toward dividing a small province like KPK. Regardless of how far the parliament can go with this particular MQM’s aberration, they need to be discouraged at all levels from politically profiting from issues that otherwise shouldn’t be their business. Whether it is Saraiki Province or Hazara Province, this issue should be exhaustively examined from all angles, including the distribution of population and economic resources and aspiration of their respective people. The demand for a commission constituted by the parliament and having legitimate representation from the respective provincial assemblies is the way to go. While amending the constitution is the right of the people, it is after all a sacred document and shouldn’t be tampered with because your don’t want a particular political party to have a complete monopoly of a certain province, or because the people of Hazara don’t want to be part of KPK on linguistic basis. Come on, for a change lets’ have a more mature approach to this very important issue. Pakistan can and should have more provinces, but it should done with a bottom up approach and not the other way round.
This is the perfect time to set up a commission for creating new provinces. Iran has 31 provinces and its population is less than Punjab. India has divided states to form more and smaller ones. Four provinces with 180million population is gross injustice with the empowerment of masses.
Every one who live in Pakistan who has right to about Country MQM is Pakistani political Party so has right as well as Nawaz leeg share in Karachi politics. We should appreciate that is going to be National Party.. Pakistan is not any one Or any Party property.
every pakistani who has right take paricipat in decision whether who live in karachi or kpk.soo mqm has right to raise voice of hazarawal and saraiki people,
Welldone MQM , at least MQM presents bill in assembly with out any demand. so why Sharifs brothers & ANP having tension in this matter .. they should support MQM bill.
Pakistan is for Pakistanis. At this point of time, it is imperative to give people their rights at the door step of its very area. MQM is doing good job in bringing this issue in to the parliament. Go ahead MQM..... you are the only hope for the deprived, unprivileged, middle class and lower middle class, educated and capable people of Pakistan
If MQM has no right to talk of any other province other than Sindh because they have no representation there, then by the same logic PTI have no right to talk of any part of Pakistan!!
@Shahrukh kazmi: Well Said !
You can't force anyone to refrain from giving opinions on any national issue...In actuall there are only few National level parties in Pakistan...PPP, JI being the formal ones & PTI emerging as the new one...If MQM has no representation in Punjab or KP then PML(N) & ANP have no representation in Sindh & Punjab respectively... As far as the matter of new provinces is concerned it should definitely be welcomed, I don't c any reason why a Saraiki or Hazara province shouldn't be made..
PML-N has no representation in Sindh especially Karachi, So they don't have to pass any statement over karachi issues. MQM just raised its voice with the voices of Hazara Province Movement, MQM just supports Hazara Movement and for the creation of it. MQM is using legal way, "Parliament". ANP & PML-N should have to support it, It's provinces not separate countries.
It's fascinating that Mr. Asfandyar Wali Khan now thinks that new provinces are a non-issue and that the country is simply going through too much to be able to discuss new provinces. That this evolution has come about so soon after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa movement is amazing. And, with all due respect, it's insensitive of him to imply that while Pukhtun issues are important, regardless of Pakistan's situation, non-Pukhtun issues are not so much.
Mr. Asfandyar W. Khan also said, “If you hate the Pakhtun name so much, what are you going to do with those sitting in Hazara.” I would like to ask him how Peshoris (like me), Hazaras, Kizilbaash and Seraikis (among others) should go about identifying with "Pakhtunkhwa".
@Mohammad Rohaan Sadiq I think we have indian example and iranian example how they made it provinces and why look at indian punjab there are three states out of one Haryana, Himachel perdesh, and tiny punjab for sikhs why they did this we all knows first of all sikh got there right to rules the area and then Hindus population in Haryna and Himacal got there seprate states and right to rule. so i guess south punjab and Hazara needs a seprate provinces not only to rules but to solve there problems of jobs and minrals royality and i about karach all ways have seprate administ ration and govt its all ready a muhajir subah.
Welldone MQM , at least MQM presents bill in assembly with out any demand. so why Sharifs brothers having tension in this matter .. they should support MQM bill.
I am cynic and I don't understand why we even take the comments of people who are possibly the worst leaders seriously. At the end of the day on the talk about provinces in Pakistan, everyone's major concern should be about what is happening in Balochistan. Dividing Punjab, the lawlessness of Karachi are important issues but none of these places want "freedom". We need to become more aware of our largest and perhaps the most rich in resouces province's issues and discuss their problems alongside these issues of province division and what not. But what politicians and Pakistanis do very well is think only about their immediate interests and not think about what is the most impending and dangerous problem Pakistan is facing. I admit I am a Punjabi afraid of losing Balochistan like Bengladesh.
Pakistan should be divided into sevrnteen states.Each state having a governer directly elected by people, a state assembly of say thirty or forty people and maximum state autonomy should be given to run thier own affairs. If we accept ANp and chaudry Nisar's stance then people out of sindh should never open their mouth on any subject related to sindh.
I dont think making new provinces can do any good for Pakistan. Today they say Sindh Vs Punjab, tomorrow they will say Sindh Vs Siraiki Province. If you really want to make certain communitites or areas to flourish then the solution in my opinion is to have properly governed DISTRICTS. We already have districts and if the representatives of those districts work upto the potential then you can have a very prosperous Pakistan. There is no need of provinces! My mind just doesnt accept it! I dont want to see any change in Quaid-e-Azams Pakistan.
Democracy is all about devolution of power and people managing their affairs locally. PML-N and ANP, however, want to continue the centralized system which is exploitative and denies the people of Southern Punjab and Hazara their fundamental right to govern themselves. As for "division on ethnic grounds", the course was set when our politicians, in their infinite wisdom, renamed NWFP, undermining the ethnic identities of the multiethnic population of the province. This short-sighted decision was bound to weaken the federation of Pakistan. One way to address this is to decentralize, starting with making Hazara a separate province as soon as possible.
Thanks to PMLN and ANP foundations of separation are being sowed! By their standards people from another province have no business in the other provinces? Amazing!
@Imran: Hammad is right, we need PEACE in Pakistan not PIECES. MQM should do its efforts to bring peace.
@A R Khan Yusufzai: MQM will be more then happy to have Karachi as province,problem will faced by others.MQM has achieved a respect in the hearts of people of south PUNJAB and HAZARA,other political parties just bluffing the people of these areas;this our dirty style of politics
@Hammad: PML-N was making similar statements about Karachi earlier despite having zero representation outside Punjab, and negligible representation outside northern and central Punjab. In fact, this is the hallmark of the politics of PML-N, you try to discuss any political matter with them, they always reply with bashing their opponents.
PML-N always have issues with MQM doing anything and all those who are bashing MQM here ask Hazara people they raised there voice many years ago MQM just took it to the NA and now not even MQM is supporting this PPP, PML Q, JUI are also in this so why naming only MQM. And for the people who are saying to divide Karachi just to let them know Karachi is already divided into 18 towns by none other then MQM. My humble request is to PML N is stop this hatred for Karachiites we are generating 70% of this country revenue and we are Pathan, Urdu speaking, Punjabi, Memon, Sindhi, Balochi, Bangali Saraiki, Hazarwal and Yes We are mini Pakistan! Thank you!
MQM had earlier reversed the division of Karachi based on administrative issues. They want new provinces and cities but just not in their areas but at someone else's.
KPK and Punjab assemblies should opinion from elected persons of these regions and take decision accordingly. Hazara and Seraiki belt are cpabale of becoming provinces considering administrative and other factors.
@shaan i agreed and wanna add too something MQM is not bad party its made some mistakes as a immuture and new party in politics but they have given karachi a lot and in pakistan where one of em called them self by tribe and ethanic based parties if mqm does whats wrong with that and i support MQM on this topic.
Instead of criticizing MQM; PML-N & ANP should democratically debate the resolution in National Assembly.
I hate it when these political parties humiliate public snetiments, spread hatered for their personal reasons
@adeel759: Then by your own logic other parties have no right to talk on matters related to Karachi??
@adeel759: Agreed but then PML-N should also NEVER say anything regarding the affairs of Karachi since it has NO representation over there. Do you agree??
Im not supporter of MQM rather Im very much against their policies, but for those who are saying MQM have no right to speak, Than PMLN MUST keep their MOUTH SHUT in Sindh n Baluchistan. If PMLN n ANP have failed the people of Hazara than we welcome MQM move to defend our rights...
MQM had no right what so ever to speak for other provinces since its a limited party from within karachi. it should do hat ever it wants to karachiites since they elected it, its mandate is duely respected but for within karachi
@ Muhammad,
Royalty of Terbella and Khanpur dam, Tourism and minerals. Infact its more than 120 billion. Only 4 Chief ministers were from hazara in last 63 years which couldnt do anything as Bureaucratic system is completely dominated by anti-Hazara pp, Just like you guys accuse central Punjab for depraving south Punjab.
There is no harm in making smaller units, as far as debate in provincial assembly is concerned ANP will never take this issue on board even for discussion, WHAT SORTA democracy is this?
At all those calling for division of Sindh & giving Karachi the status of a province please note the following: 1- There is no political movement of any sort in the favor of creation of any such province in Sindh. While such movements have been going on in Hazara & Southern Punjab for quite sometime. 2- Karachi generates huge amount of revenue not only for Pakistan but also for Sindh while the remaining areas of the provinces are not that much industrialized therefore their need of revenues for development funds is pretty much fulfilled from Karachi & on the other hand the agricultural outputs of these areas serve the needs of Karachi. In this way a sort of balance situation has been created. 3- Demands for Hazara & Southern Punjab provinces stem out due to the deprivation of the people belonging to those areas while Karachi is definitely not in such a situation. Rather it provide opportunities of growth to the less developed areas of Sindh. If Karachi is separated from Sindh, the economic & social situation in Sindh will definitely be out of balance.
@ Aiman. Because, National Assembly is not the place. If there are to be new provinces, the debate has to take place in the Provincial Assembly. I dont say so, this is provided in the Constitution.
@Shaan
How it generates 120 billion. Hazara got the most chief ministers then any other division. What they did for Hazara.
Strange that someone would stop Pakistani Parliamentarians to discuss issues about Pakistani provinces in Pakistani Parliament.
All you will get with new provinces, is more V.I.P.s like governor, chief minister, ministers, high courts etc. What a waste. Lets share resources more equitably and give more to the less privileged. Instead of creating more V.I.P.s.
a new mohajir sooba should also be made out of what is now sindh.if the other communities can get their own provinces why not the mohajirs?
PMLN have failed the people of HAZARA, Sorry to say KPK govt always ignored Hazara too, People of the region want their identity a separate province. Hazara generates 120 billion to the provincial economy while only 300-400 million is spent. Effected people of Terbella dam are still suffering while provincial govt is claiming billions on their name. List goes on and on....
Now, out of 32 representatives of Hazara PMLN used to have major seats. if PMLN font defend interest of people it doesnt matter to us if MQM does so. We are sick of this power and interest base politics of PMLN n PPP.
@Hammad: If as per Ch. Nisar's comments MQM should not talk about Hazara & South Punjab becuase it has no representation in those areas then perhaps PML-N should also never talk about issues related to Karachi & Sindh since it also has no representation in these areas. I am sometimes amazed at how can people be of such a narrow vision & biased while discussing MQM & its politics. You may not like MQM & its politics but for God's sake see & discuss the political issues in their true context.
@Qaisrani: i am unable to understand that, who have stopped sarikies to progress,when there are representatives at each level, who stopped sarikies to get education and prosper and i see no agenda, how sarikis will earn revenue to finance its projects, but in current set up how much is being contributed. simply when under current system one is not ready to pay tax then how will it pay to provincial revenue. after 18th amendment education become provincial subject, and provinces decreased education budget compared to fed budget previously, this is
One Unit = Best Solution
creation of new administrative units is necessary for good governance, its also true that it should not be on ethnic lines, but the questions is when you renamed the NWFP Pukhtunkhawa, was it not on ethnicity???. If democracy is respecting the popular demand then ANP should respect the wishes of Hazara and PML should do same for the Southern Punjab.
why is everyone targetting punjab for breaking up? why doesn't mqm make a move for a new province for the mohajir community living in sindh? if new provinces can be made out of punjab then why not out of sindh?
MQM wants to separate karachi from the rest of the sind that is why they are supporting new provinces
@MQM, We don't want Karachi like situation in Punjab, let them at least live freely.
Myopic vision of some political parties surfaces again. Instead of arguing their case against formation of new provinces, all they can come up is criticism of MQM. Why cant for once, these parties rise above their party objectives and think in the interest of Pakistan.
End Colonization of South Punjab aka Saraikistan by the Punjabis.
We,the people of South have the same right to have same universities,hospitals,infrastructure et al.We want our own province where we could have more jobs at provincial and federal level.No more exploitation by only one group.
My suggestion to MQM....if you want more provinces in Pakistan let's start by making Karachi a new province. This city population has crossed 1 crore and we need to give it a separate identity keeping in view "Administrative Issues".
I thought the national asembly was suppossed to ba a National Assembly. Talk of representation in provinces doesnt belong there.