Easing administrative burden: Altaf demands formation of 20 new provinces

MQM chief urges leaders of PTI, PAT, government to restart dialogue process.

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Monday demanded the formation of at least 20 new provinces along administrative lines in the country.

In a press statement, Altaf said that since the population had grown in the country, there should be new provinces or new administrative units. He added that by creating new provinces, power would be passed on to people at the grass root level. He gave examples of India and other countries such as Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan where additional provinces were created.

Meanwhile addressing the leaders of the protesting parties, the PAT and the PTI, as well as the government, Altaf implored that the dialogue process should be restarted.

“They must show patience and seriousness and adopt the principle of give and take.” He said that those parties holding demonstrations should understand the problems of the government while the latter should reconsider demands of the protestors.

Proposing a solution to the impasse, Altaf said the government should announce recounting of votes in those constituencies where the protesting parties claim rigging took place. He also called for arrest of those policemen involved in firing and killing the protestors of the PAT in the Model Colony incident. The MQM chief added that the demands made by protestors was in fact a reflection of the middle-class people.