Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, stated on Saturday that a referendum regarding the creation of new provinces will only be conducted if it receives approval from a joint session of parliament. Speaking to journalists in Lahore, he emphasized that parliament remains the most appropriate platform for deliberating on the establishment of new provinces.
His comments aligned with those of Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who announced that parliamentary discussions on the matter are scheduled for October. Sanaullah clarified that the issue has not yet been presented to the cabinet, and that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is still consulting internally to finalize its stance. The party intends to release its official policy once the topic is formally introduced in parliament.
He underscored that the decision to create new provinces rests with parliament, and expressed confidence that the issue will progress constructively once debated, allowing all political parties to voice their perspectives. Sanaullah also mentioned that the PML-N would take into account feedback from its district and union council members before concluding its position.
In a significant development, Sanaullah noted that tensions between the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have notably eased following disagreements during the recent Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. He expressed optimism that relations between the two parties will improve further.
Addressing economic concerns, Sanaullah expressed the PML-N’s desire to see a reduction in petroleum product prices. He also urged Jamaat-e-Islami to delay its planned long march by one or two weeks, hoping the event would remain peaceful. Without directly naming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he warned that another party’s proposed long march might not be peaceful, emphasizing that law enforcement agencies must intervene if intentions are violent. He called on political parties to adopt peaceful political strategies to avoid negative consequences.
Sanaullah attributed rising prices to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, stressing that Pakistan should not be held responsible for the inflation. He criticized Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s speeches and statements, saying they have failed to bring any positive change.
The debate on administrative reforms was sparked in July by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who described Pakistan’s governance system as having “collapsed” and advocated for fundamental reforms, including the creation of new administrative units with greater powers devolved to lower levels. Naqvi later clarified that his criticism referred to the deterioration of the system over the past 80 years rather than any specific government. On September 5, he emphasized that the formation of new administrative units should reflect the will of the people, describing the process as a necessary “system reset” aimed at correcting past mistakes rather than dismantling the system.
The discussion expanded when Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal proposed a national dialogue on Pakistan’s administrative structure, suggesting the creation of 12 to 15 provinces.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced on Friday that the joint opposition plans to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) soon to discuss the creation of new provinces. This announcement followed a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazalur Rehman at his residence. The joint opposition platform will also be used for consultations on assembly sessions and prisoner-related issues.
Gohar Ali Khan noted that discussions about forming a joint opposition had previously taken place with the JUI-F chief, with agreement reached on the issue in both the Senate and National Assembly. He described the initial meeting as encouraging and indicated that consultations would continue. He also mentioned that the opposition has not yet been invited to participate in the proposed long march, although talks are ongoing regarding their involvement in the APC.
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