PML-N opinion divided over bill for two provinces

While Chaudhry Nisar defends the strategy, Ishaq Dar opposes it.

LAHORE:

A difference of opinion has emerged in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over how to thwart the bill on formation of the Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab (BJP) province piloted by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Senator Ishaq Dar opposes the party’s strategy to move its own bill against the BJP bill – demanding two provinces – in both houses of Parliament, while Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan favours the approach, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

PPP had recently submitted its BJP bill in the Senate and the house is scheduled to vote on it on February 26. The BJP bill demands formation of only one province instead of two.

Earlier, PML-N had devised a strategy to neither support nor oppose the BJP bill. Instead the party’s senior leadership led by party’s President Nawaz Sharif had decided to table its own bill demanding restoration of the Bahawalpur province and formation of the South Punjab province.



According to sources, Senator Ishaq Dar has urged Nawaz Sharif to review the party’s call for two provinces. He argued that with limited resources, running three provinces under one constitutional unit will not be a sensible move.

Dar has warned Nawaz Sharif that if PML-N will table a counter bill against PPP’s BJP bill in either Senate or NA, PPP will make sure that PML-N’s bill is passed by the house.

Senate strategy

According to PML-N’s latest strategy, the party will not make a hue and cry in the Senate when the BJP bill is put to vote and will refrain from presenting its own bill on two provinces.

NA strategy

Nisar still adheres to his stance that if Dar opposes to present bill of two provinces in the Senate then he will present party’s bill in NA when PPP will move its BJP bill in the lower house, sources said. Two of the party’s MNAs, Mian Saud Majeed and Zahid Hamid, have already drafted a comprehensive bill and submitted it to Nisar’s chamber.

The draft, besides demanding the restoration of the Bahawalpur province and formation of the South Punjab province, also calls for carving out the FATA and Hazara province.

PML-N’s Central Information Secretary Mushahidullah Khan while talking to The Express Tribune said both senior leaders will follow the party’s policy. He said that PML-N has not yet crafted its strategy for the Senate, and that the party will meet on Monday at 3pm in upper house where they will come up with a fresh stance. He said that there is a possibility that PML-N will oppose the BJP bill but it’s not a final decision.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2013.