Incomplete proposal: PML-N rejects report on formation of new province
Says there is no constitutional backing for the move.
PML-N stated that it was an incomplete proposal as some other proposed provinces were not included in the list. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
With general elections looming, it seems Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) has finally succeeded in countering the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) move to create the new province, Bahawalpur Janobi Punjab (BJP), on legal grounds.
Though the Senate’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice has approved the Parliamentary committee’s report pertaining to the formation of a new province with a majority, the report was rejected by the PML-N on a constitutional basis here on Wednesday.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, central leader of PPP Jehangir Badar, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar, PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq and Zafar Ali Shah also attended the meeting.
Rejecting the parliamentary committee’s report, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq of PML-N stated that it was an incomplete proposal because some other proposed provinces were not included in the list.
Haq also said that there is no constitutional backing for the formulation of new provinces, adding that Article 239 of the Constitution only describes the procedure to change the boundaries of provinces.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said a new province could not be formed under the present Constitution until there was an amendment in Article 239. He added that if a bill for the formation of a new province was presented under the present scenario, it could be challenged in court.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Naek stated that the formation of a new province could be done on an administrative not ethnic basis, adding that the Constitution did not prohibit the formation of new provinces but an amendment would be needed to Article 1.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said that Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur should also be merged into Balochistan province, as these areas were previously part of Balochistan. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also expressed its reservations over the PPP’s move, asking why Hazara Division was not being given the status of a province.
After the meeting, Raja Zafarul Haq told The Express Tribune that if the PPP succeeded in introducing an amendment in the Constitution regarding the formulation of new provinces, then the PML-N will demand for the restoration of the old status of Bahawalpur state.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2013.
With general elections looming, it seems Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) has finally succeeded in countering the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) move to create the new province, Bahawalpur Janobi Punjab (BJP), on legal grounds.
Though the Senate’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice has approved the Parliamentary committee’s report pertaining to the formation of a new province with a majority, the report was rejected by the PML-N on a constitutional basis here on Wednesday.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, central leader of PPP Jehangir Badar, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar, PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq and Zafar Ali Shah also attended the meeting.
Rejecting the parliamentary committee’s report, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq of PML-N stated that it was an incomplete proposal because some other proposed provinces were not included in the list.
Haq also said that there is no constitutional backing for the formulation of new provinces, adding that Article 239 of the Constitution only describes the procedure to change the boundaries of provinces.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said a new province could not be formed under the present Constitution until there was an amendment in Article 239. He added that if a bill for the formation of a new province was presented under the present scenario, it could be challenged in court.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Naek stated that the formation of a new province could be done on an administrative not ethnic basis, adding that the Constitution did not prohibit the formation of new provinces but an amendment would be needed to Article 1.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said that Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur should also be merged into Balochistan province, as these areas were previously part of Balochistan. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also expressed its reservations over the PPP’s move, asking why Hazara Division was not being given the status of a province.
After the meeting, Raja Zafarul Haq told The Express Tribune that if the PPP succeeded in introducing an amendment in the Constitution regarding the formulation of new provinces, then the PML-N will demand for the restoration of the old status of Bahawalpur state.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2013.