ISLAMABAD: Leader of the opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday accused the government and its coalition partners of diverting masses' attention from real issues by staging 'drama' for creation of new provinces.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, he blamed Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for diverting attention from the real issues, adding that new provinces could not be created through 'dramas'.

He said that the country was facing severe gas and electricity crises, but the government and its coalition partners were giving unnecessary importance to other issues by diverting attention of the masses from the real problems being faced by them.

He warned that creation of new provinces on linguistic and ethnic grounds would affect small provinces' interests. He, however, said that his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was not against formation of new provinces but these should not be created on linguistic and ethnic grounds.

He said that constitutional means should be adopted for creation of new federating units on administrative basis.

He was of the view that new provinces should be created but the country's larger interest must be given top priority. Nisar reiterated his party stance that a commission should be constituted to evolve consensus for creation of more provinces.

He was also critical of MQM, saying that the party should focus its attention on resolving problems of the people of Karachi. He said efforts were being made to befool the people in the name of new provinces. "Those who are not ready for creation of a second district in Karachi, are now talking of formation of more provinces," he maintained.

Referring to escape of former Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah, the leader of opposition said the former commissioner compromised national interests in favor of India but the House was prorogued without discussing the matter.