PPP, PML-N favour creation of new provinces

The ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and major opposition party in the National Assembly-Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday favoured creation of new provinces by following constitutional course.
The House witnessed hot debate regarding creation of new federating units in the country with the clarification given by PML-N's MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq who referred to a statement of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif regarding division of Sindh province, followed by Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who stated that PML-N was not against the creation of new provinces in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and elsewhere if needed, but added that constitutional way should be adopted for the purpose.
While responding, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar welcomed the clarification by PML-N lawmaker, saying that PPP believes that constitutional way should be followed for creating new provinces. He said that PPP was not against the establishment of new provinces rather added that a legal way present in the constitution, which should be followed.
Referring to incident of attack on PML-N regional office in Sindh, Qamar condemned the act saying that PPP believes in reconciliation and never indulged in politics of victimisation. He also assured the House that detailed report would be summoned from Sindh government regarding the incident. Leader of the Opposition Chaudhri Nisar, while speaking on a point of order said that PML-N was not against the creation of new provinces. However, he added that there exists a legal in the Constitution and that should be followed wherever it requires to form new federating units.
Referring to unfulfilled promises made by the Prime Minister and his cabinet members on floor of the House, he criticised the government for it repeated retreat on various national issues. "The way the government is ignoring each and every issue of national importance, is a serious blow to democratic way of governance," he said, adding that the government and the Prime Minister should come to take the House into confidence on various issues like ISI chief visit to the US, the alleged involvement of country's intelligence agencies in country's politics.
He also urged the Prime Minister to ask the intelligence agencies to remain in their constitutional ambits, adding that the entire nation knows how they (agencies) were engaged in making new political alliances and sponsoring some 'test-tube' political parties to stage sit-in on drone attacks.
He was of the view that Parliament, which has the ownership of the joint resolution passed against the drone strikes, should stage sit-in against these attacks. "Why these 'test-tube' politicians, sponsored by someone else are staging sit-in on the drone attacks," he asked without naming anyone, adding that the country's intelligence agencies were issued funds from the national exchequer for serving strategic interests of the country and not for interfering in the politics.
He further said that he has documented proofs that how the intelligence agencies were contacting politicians including his party members, adding that it would be better that the Prime Minister should take notice of the situation otherwise, he warned to present each and everything in the Parliament.
Chaudhry Nisar also questioned the government for collecting petroleum levy from the masses, adding it was severe injustice that the government has collected Rs 163 billion in the last six month on account of petroleum levy from the poor masses. He also asked the Prime Minister to announce giving subsidy on the POL prices as the same has been given by Indian Prime Minister.
The leader of the opposition also raised serious objection over the new possible political alliance of the PPP with PML-Q adding that he would continue to expose the two parties in the House. "Those parties are going to enter in a coalition on the name of 'national government' who in the past had levelled serious allegations of murder and corruption against each other," he added.
He also announced that PML-N would continue its protest in the House on the issues concerning to the masses and if these were not addressed properly the protest would be extended to the streets. Earlier, Saad Rafiq said the statement of Shahbaz Sharif regarding division of Sindh was distorted; adding that it should not be politicised and constitutional course should be adopted for formation of new provinces.
Fata's parliamentary leader Munir Khan Orakzai while referring to the meeting of lawmakers belonging to Fata with President Zardari, said that they demanded immediate measures to stop drone attacks. He further said that they also raised the issue of new provinces and demanded that Fata should also be considered as new province. PPP's MNA from Sindh Gul Muhammad Jakhrani strongly criticised the statement of Shahbaz Sharif regarding division of Sindh adding that entire Sindh was in protest regarding the statement of the Chief Minister.