The opposition Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday rejected the composition of a parliamentary commission to carve two new federating units out of Punjab, diminishing the government’s hopes for political gains from dividing the country’s most populous province.
Speaking at a press conference, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said he was shocked to learn that Speaker Fehmida Mirza constituted the commission while on a visit to the United States.
He expressed his displeasure with the speaker for not bothering to wait for receiving nominations from the main opposition party before making such an important announcement.
“It is a political gimmick. Nothing more than that,” Chaudhry Nisar said of a plan by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to create new Seraiki and Bahawalpur provinces.
The opposition, however, did not call for de-notification of the commission, but restricted its demand only to changing its composition with 50% representation from the PML-N and expulsion of members from other provinces.
The PML-N, Chaudhry Nisar said, was concerned that the speaker had once again become part of the government’s game-plan and its dual standards.
Additionally, he questioned the government’s sincerity in creating new provinces, accusing the ruling party of only trying to advance its political goals. The PML-N leader added that the opposition was never invited to propose names for the commission. “All that was shared with me was a verbal message to give names,” he added.
Chaudhry Nisar said the opposition was ready to discuss the matter with the ruling party and wanted to be informed on the composition of the proposed commission and its terms of reference from the National Assembly secretariat.
However, he expressed surprise that the commission, with negligible representation from the opposition party, was announced in the meantime. He demanded the PPP take lawful steps if it was serious about the formation of new provinces.
Chaudhry Nisar said that if the proposed commission was meant only for the creation of two new provinces in Punjab, the PML-N as the single largest party, must have 50% representation in it. He added that all the members of the commission should be from the province concerned, if it was to be Punjab centric.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2012.
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To make a federal Govt in Pakistan, a party has to have support from most if not all the provinces. PML-N has no support in Sindh and Seraiki areas and also very little in KPK. They would never have a majority in the senate and would have to include others even to make a coalition Govt in the center. On the other hand PPP and PTI (in place of PML-Q) could make a stable Govt after the next elections.
Dear Sir
The demand that the commision should be from only punjab province is illogical.we are going to create a unit of federation so all parties should have say in the proposed S Punjab province.
Kalyar
@SI: Was not absurd to integrate Bahawalpur with Punjab after the dissolution of one unit of West Pakistan? Dividing Punjab will solve the problems of Seraikis.
@Qaisrani: I agree with you 100%. First of all nobody is dividing Punjab from other provinces. It is the people of S. Punjab and their plight while being ruled by the Lahore throne. Unless majority of S. Punjab want a new province there should be no demand. If some people want to make it Punjab only issue and do not want the federation to be involved then the issues like all the dams including Kalabagh are local issues and other provinces should not interfere in them. We never stop talking about the right of self rule for Kashmir but are against the right of self rule by people of S. Punjab! This issue must be decided by the local people with the help of the federation and not the Lahore throne. Regards, Mirza
Who care what PML (N) thinks? World moves on they can stay behind!
@Avatar:
PML N will be wiped out but only if they don't successfully oppose division of Punjab .
PML-N being a hypocrite again and will not make the new provinces like it promised. In return I think they will not get a single NA or PA seats from south punjab and Bahawalpur. They should kiss their raj in punjab good bye from now on. With these circumstances PPP will win even Punjab's provincial assemble as well next time.
we will not let them divide Punjab
As per constitution, it is not just the province, but the national assembly also to deliberate on the creation of a new province. Second, PML-N does not have 50% representation in the provincial assembly to forward such a stupid demand. As Javed hashmi says, and everyone knows, ch. Nisar is going to destroy PML-N, and his demand is as outrageous and illogical as it sounds.
A genuine demand by Nisar. Including senators from Sindh and KPK to decide the fate of Punjab is illogical. This is a step to disintegrate Pakistan. In future another Govt can take same step to divide Sindh and KPK. Speaker should have shown some sense.
@Saud: If people from other province at national assembly can't be part of commission as per your logic,then PMLN does not deserve to question anything from PPP government as PMLN is Punjbai ethnic party only based in Punjab.They donot deserve to portray themselves as opposition party at national level. Ch Nisar,it's time to consider Saraiki as human too.Donot obstruct creation of new provinces in Punjab.Otherwise PMLN will not have any seat from those oppressed areas.Let them have their own province and feel at ease with people from GT Road cities who plundered them institutionally for decades.
@Mirza: Hey Mirza Man,,, you still support PPP? With all the disaster PPP hA done to this country, how can you get the heart to support it still??
Before creating new provinces, we should decide first, on which principals new provinces would made. if the criteria they will have set for Southern Punjab and Bahawalpur would meet any other part of country, may it be from Sindh, that part would have full right to raise voice to have their own province. It should,t be Punjab centric, it would be for whole country.
i agree with him, if it's about punjab, people form punjab should decide their fate and not any other, similary if they decide to divide sindh or KPKH in future, only people from their should have a say, what's wrong about this?
"Chaudhry Nisar said that if the proposed commission was meant only for the creation of two new provinces in Punjab, the PML-N as the single largest party, must have 50% representation in it. He added that all the members of the commission should be from the province concerned, if it was to be Punjab centric." Quite logical. Only elected reps of the province have the mandate to decide the fate of the province.
Following the footsteps of PCO CJ, Nisar also wants veto powers in the NA and senate. One dreads to think what would they do if they have majority in both houses? Oh yes when they had majority they even invaded and attacked the SC session.