PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution rejecting any proposal to include the districts of Haripur and Abbottabad within the territorial limits of the federal capital, Islamabad, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the province’s territorial integrity, constitutional status, provincial autonomy and public ownership of natural resources.
The resolution, moved by Provincial Minister Akbar Ayub during a sitting presided over by Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi, was passed with the support of both treasury and opposition members.
It stated that Haripur and Abbottabad were integral parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that the province enjoyed political, economic and constitutional rights over the two districts and their natural resources.
The House categorically rejected any proposal or action by the federal government to alter the province’s boundaries by separating Haripur, Abbottabad or any other district from KP and incorporating it into the federal capital.
According to the resolution, any change in provincial boundaries for administrative, political, economic or resource-related reasons would violate the constitutional rights of the people, undermine provincial autonomy and weaken Pakistan’s federal structure.
It maintained that the province’s water resources, hydropower projects, mineral reserves, forests and other natural assets constitutionally belonged to the province and its people, adding that any direct or indirect attempt to assume control over them would be unacceptable.
The resolution emphasised that Pakistan’s strength rested on constitutional supremacy, provincial autonomy and equal respect for all federating units. It warned that any unilateral alteration of provincial boundaries for political or other motives could harm national unity, inter-provincial trust and the federal system.
The House called on the federal government to immediately abandon any proposal relating to the inclusion of Haripur, Abbottabad or any other district of KP in Islamabad and to fully respect the province’s constitutional, geographical and administrative status.
It also reaffirmed the resolve of the provincial assembly, the elected government and the people of KP to safeguard the province’s territorial integrity, constitutional rights, provincial autonomy and natural resources through all constitutional, democratic and peaceful means.
The resolution appealed to political parties, elected representatives, constitutional institutions, lawyers, civil society organisations, the media and the youth to adopt a united stance for the protection of the province’s geographical integrity and constitutional rights.
The House further warned against any unilateral attempt to alter the province’s boundaries, saying such a move would be unacceptable to the people of KP and could adversely affect inter-provincial harmony, national cohesion and the country’s federal framework.
It demanded that the federal government issue a clear statement rejecting any such proposal and reaffirm its commitment, in accordance with the Constitution, to protecting KP’s territorial integrity, constitutional status and public rights.
