'Creation of new provinces would weaken country'

Activists of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (Sami ul Haq) and Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum Khan Group) have opposed the creation of new provinces and termed that it was a conspiracy to break the country.
Speaking at a news conference here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Wednesday, JUI-S provincial activist and former Deputy Speakers, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Ikramullah Shahid said that the creation of new provinces would weaken the country, saying that government wasn't in position to take such initiatives in prevailing administrative and financial hardships.
He also rejected the demand of Hazara province, saying that Mansehra, Haripur and Abbottabad could not become a province as Batgram and Tor Ghar had already opposed the idea. He also referred to a demand of the former federal Minister Lal Mohammad Khan who suggested provincial status to Malakand Division, which comprises of seven districts.
While referring to a demand of the Awami National Party provincial President Senator Afrasiyab Khattak about formation of Southern Pakhtunkhwa province, he said that if the government accepted the Seraiki province the demands would increase and the country would be divided in several pieces in violation of the constitution.
With new provinces, he said price hike, unemployment, foreign loans, administrative expenditures and protocol duties would increase and result into severe financial crisis to the country. He said the distribution of assets would also remain a serious dispute, which would lead to a new controversy.
He said that the government should focus on major problems and challenges like energy crisis, price hike, and unemployment confronting the country. Ikramullah criticised that the coalition government has adopted General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) led regime policies.
Former Deputy Speaker said that the rulers are not capable to pull country out from prevailing crisis. He added that the situation is going from bad to worse after passing each day. He said the government is working on specific agenda and left the poor masses on mercy of others.
The provincial president, PML (Abdul Qayyum Khan), Muazam Butt on the occasion stressed the need of national integrity and unity, while keeping in view prevailing situation of the country. He said that the military dictators had ruined the country. Muazam Butt said the people want resolution of their problems, but rulers are least bothered to pay attention. He said that those who were talking about division of provinces are not sincere with the country. He announced that his party is going to hold a national integrity conference in September, 11 next month in Peshawar.