DLP Report
PESHAWAR
National Democratic Movement (NDM) central president Mohsin Dawar on Friday rejected proposals for creation of new provinces, describing them as an attempt to divide Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and warning that his party would resist any such move.
Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC), flanked by party leader Bushra Gohar and other leaders, Mr Dawar said the creation of new provinces was a matter for parliament and could not be decided by an individual.
He said such constitutional changes should be approved by parliament with a two-thirds majority. “No individual will be allowed to take such decisions,” he said.
Mr Dawar argued that if administrative problems were serious, they should be addressed through administrative reforms instead of dividing existing provinces.
He said the proposal for new administrative units was “nothing but a formula to divide KP” and warned that smaller provinces would not resolve existing problems but could create new ones.
“We reject the proposal for new provinces and will not allow Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to be divided,” he said.
The NDM leader said priority should instead be given to resolving public issues, restoring peace and ensuring the smaller provinces received their due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
He alleged that efforts were being made to withdraw the shares granted to provinces under the previous NFC Award and undermine the NFC system, adding that smaller provinces were being ignored.
Referring to Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s remarks about the creation of new units, Mr Dawar said the statement appeared to have been made at someone else’s behest.
He also criticised the federal government over the security situation in KP, saying the province had reached a point where people might be forced to protect their lives and property themselves.
Mr Dawar said the federal government had failed to give the peace jirgas held in KP the importance they deserved.
“What kind of federation is this where peace jirgas are held in KP for restoring peace but the federal government rejects them?” he asked.
He said Pakistan had faced political and constitutional problems since its creation and accused successive governments of failing to adequately address the grievances of different nationalities.
Mr Dawar called for a new social contract on the question of creating new provinces, saying no new provinces should be established through force as this would further aggravate existing problems.
He also criticised political parties that had already started passing resolutions in support of new provinces, saying they would eventually regret such decisions.
