New Provinces Rana Sanaullah says Parliament will debate division proposals

Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah says Parliament will debate any proposal to divide Pakistan’s provinces if the issue formally comes before lawmakers.

Speaking to senior journalists in Lahore, Sanaullah said supporters of creating new provinces may have held discussions with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He said the party could not oppose a proposal before it had formally reached Parliament.

“If the matter comes before Parliament, everyone will express their opinion,” he said. He added that lawmakers could also refer the issue to a parliamentary or standing committee for further consideration.

Sanaullah estimated that the process could take six to eight months. He said the debate could also extend to the creation of new administrative units or the holding of local government elections.

He stressed that the PML-N had not initiated the proposal to divide provinces and said the party’s position remained clear.

Sanaullah said the PML-N’s local leadership in Punjab did not want Bahawalpur to become part of a proposed South Punjab province.

He said some proposals called for Bahawalpur to become a separate province, while others suggested keeping it within the Lahore administrative structure. He added that no major PML-N leader had publicly backed the division of provinces.

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Sanaullah also claimed that the Pakistan Peoples Party had gained political advantage from the debate over new provinces.

He referred to President Asif Ali Zardari’s support for a canal project and said the plan was halted after public protests.

Turning to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Sanaullah said back-channel contacts with PTI founder Imran Khan could be taking place. He added that any such approach would carry a political cost.

Sanaullah also accused the PTI of preparing to march on Islamabad with armed supporters. He further alleged that what he described as Fitna al-Khawarij, which he claimed was backed by India, could target a PTI rally in an attempt to create tensions between the government and the public.

These claims were not independently substantiated in his remarks. Sanaullah predicted that any PTI protest would fail.

He also said the federal interior minister would have to respond if he raised the matter in the cabinet or Senate.

Sanaullah addressed comments by Federal Minister Sheikh Qaiser, who had claimed that he did not meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sanaullah said Qaiser met the prime minister every other day in his presence and questioned the basis of his complaint.

He added that some government matters required private deliberation and should not always be made public.