Pakistan’s President Zardari in London amid debate over new provinces — Dawn
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari is in London amid a debate over the possible creation of new provinces in Pakistan. Presidential spokesperson Murtaza Solangi called the trip private, while Pakistan Peoples Party Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said its purpose was a medical check-up. At the same time, Zardari’s meetings with politicians sparked speculation about a political dimension to the visit, Dawn reports.
Proposals for administrative reform
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was also in the United Kingdom, had earlier called for a review of the system of public administration and the creation of new administrative units. At the National Political Dialogue at the University of Management and Technology, he explained that his proposed “reset” did not mean changing the government or political party, but envisaged a comprehensive review and restructuring of the administrative system in view of citizens’ needs.
Naqvi also called for discussing granting Islamabad provincial status. According to him, residents of the federal capital do not receive a share of funds under the National Finance Commission mechanism.
Pakistan Peoples Party’s position
After Zardari’s meeting with Naqvi in London, the president held meetings with leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party. According to an unnamed Dawn source, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Dr Asim Hussain later joined Zardari in the United Kingdom.
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Later, the Sindh Provincial Assembly adopted a resolution against the creation of new provinces. Bukhari said Naqvi’s meeting with Zardari had no serious political significance, explaining it by the minister’s long-standing ties with the president. However, another unnamed party source told the publication that the president’s visit had reasons broader than medical treatment, and that the resolution was intended to convey Zardari’s and his party’s position to the government.
According to this source, the PPP had previously agreed in principle to the creation of two provinces in Punjab — South Punjab and Bahawalpur. The party’s position changed after the government began considering the creation of new constituent units of the federation in all four existing provinces. The PPP now openly opposes the division of these provinces.
The government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has two-thirds of the votes in the National Assembly but relies on PPP support. Dawn notes that the party’s withdrawal of such support would complicate the adoption of constitutional amendments to create new provinces.
