Debate on new provinces dominates NA

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday once again raised voice on the issue of new provinces and threatened to stage a walk out from the assembly along with coalition partners, Geo News reported.

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi, on point of order, said the resolution of new provinces was not included in Friday's agenda of the assembly.

On this, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi said how could it be included when the resolution was not presented in the NA.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani reiterated commitment for the creation of a Saraiki province and pointed out that consensus on this matter has been evolved and is at mature stage.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the prime minister said, after the consensus gaining maturity, it is our responsibility to be more careful so our ultimate objective of a new province may not fall prey to anybody's politics.

The prime minister said the government used all platforms and brought the resolution in the Punjab Assembly for the Saraiki province but no debate was held.

After failing to get any response, the government was compelled to bring this issue to the National Assembly.

"We are more supportive even than you because majority of members is supporting me," he said and called upon political parties to evolve consensus for Hazara province on the pattern of Saraki province.

Prime Minister said Chaudhry Shujjat and Gohar Ayub also met him in connection with Hazara province.

However, Gilani said he took up the issues with ANP President Asfandyar Wali, who suggested to evolve consensus within PPP. So, the matter was referred to the PPP manifesto committee for consensus.

He said he has asked the Chief whips of political parties to meet Speaker National Assembly for creation of provinces. If they want to table separate resolutions for new provinces, the government would not oppose.

MQM's Farooq Sattar warned that if voting was not held on the resolution, MQM would boycott the session along with FATA, PML-Q and JUI MNAs.

Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of ANP said it is not even a year that the provinces were empowered and now the conspiracies were being hatched to reverse that. Today, if Punjab and KP were shattered, tomorrow it would be Sindh's turn.

Federal Law Minister Mola Bux Chandio said division of Sindh would not be tolerated.

Khursheed Shah said government would bring Hazara province bill and for that consensus would be made, adding that voting on new provinces could not be carried out in National Assembly.

MQM MNAs continuously raised slogans during the debate.