Asif hopeful of consensus on new provinces, says it will bring 'progressive' change in political landscape

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday said the country’s political landscape would change in a progressive way if a consensus was reached on the matter of creating new provinces.</p> <p>The defence minister made the remarks in an interview on <em>Geo News</em> programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ with Shahzad Iqbal. He was asked about reports that discussions were taking place on generating a broader consensus for creating new provinces, referring to two recent high-level meetings involving the president.</p> <p>Asif replied that he had no inside information on the matter and “even if there was, obviously I cannot spill it on a show”. However, he said his personal assessment was that all the consultations were heading in the direction suggested by the anchor — consensus on new provinces.</p> <p>“Consensus is being developed on the issue,” the minister said, adding that the process had been ongoing for the past several weeks.</p> <p>“In my opinion, the political landscape will change very progressively if this consensus is built and these [new] provinces are created,” he added.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed ' data-original-src='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcFvjjteQg&amp;list=PLMY6FcZmtngA&amp;index=1&amp;pp=iAQB'> <div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-JcFvjjteQg?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' loading='lazy' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div> </figure> <p>On Thursday night, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2044319/president-house-says-new-provinces-did-not-come-under-discussion-during-zardari-naqvi-meeting">called</a> on President Asif Ali Zardari, who then met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday. The Presidency had refuted <a rel="nofollow" href="https://english.aaj.tv/news/330480484/zardari-naqvi-discuss-political-situation-security-matters-in-nawabshah-meeting">reports</a> that President Zardari and Naqvi spoke about matters related to provinces.</p> <p>While an official <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2044497/president-zardari-pm-shehbaz-discuss-countrys-political-economic-and-security-situation">statement</a> from the meeting between the president and premier said the country’s political situation came under discussion, official sources privy to the development <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2044647">told <em>Dawn</em></a> that both leaders agreed to “strictly adhere to constitutional provisions” governing the creation of new provinces or administrative units.</p> <p>The sources said President Zardari and PM Shehbaz also held a brief one-on-one meeting to discuss a message reportedly conveyed to the president by Naqvi during his Nawabshah visit.</p> <p>Speaking on Sunday, Asif said he believed it would not take long to reach a consensus and the process was “moving towards culmination”.</p> <p>He added that he did not know the method of this culmination, declining to comment on whether there was likely to be a referendum on the subject in the National Assembly as it could create “complications”.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/2044647/parliaments-nod-deemed-a-must-for-referendum'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/2044647" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>According to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2044647">sources</a>, President Zardari and PM Shehbaz have agreed that the Parliament could not be bypassed in deciding whether a referendum should be held and what questions should be put to the public. Naqvi, who ignited the political storm on new provinces in July, has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2044196/after-igniting-new-provinces-debate-naqvi-floats-option-of-referendum">termed</a> holding a referendum as the solution to the debate.</p> <p>Asked about impressions that the push for new provinces was coming from certain quarters, Asif stated that this was not true as far as his advocacy for new provinces was concerned.</p> <p>“I have been saying for years that there should be a robust local governance system,” he said. “How long will we avoid this?”</p> <p>He added, “I think this will be good for all provinces, for Pakistan […] this is a very healthy thing. In all changes that have come before (in previous governments), there was never so much effort to build consensus on major changes.”</p> <p>On the lack of clarity regarding the situation, he added that until a direction on several matters was indicated, he did not want to share the details in the public realm.</p> <p>He also expressed his personal opinion that “the new year will see the new system, God-willing”, adding that the process will “take some shape in 2026”.</p> <h2><a id="space-can-be-given-to-create-consensus" href="#space-can-be-given-to-create-consensus" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" title="Permalink"></a>‘Space can be given to create consensus’</h2> <p>Asif further remarked that there was “no need for anyone to feel politically threatened” by the idea of new provinces, as political ethos was not static and continued to change.</p> <p>He further regretted that the changes brought by the 18th Amendment regarding local governments had not been implemented.</p> <p>The PPP leadership has appeared unwilling to soften its position on new provinces, particularly in Sindh. The party has consistently invoked a unanimous <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2027321">resolution</a> passed by the Sindh Assembly opposing the province’s division, maintaining that it reinforces its <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1974798">position</a> against any such move.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/2042009/new-provinces-old-solutions'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/2042009" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>Commenting on this, Asif gave his opinion that consensus was still being developed on the situation and it should not be cast in a negative light.</p> <p>He also said that space would be given in minor matters to political parties in order to create this consensus in a “quid pro quo” sense and no one would have the decision “forced” on them.</p> <p>Asked whether such an effort was being made for PTI founder Imran Khan, Asif alluded to the possibility that, if he were to agree to the new system, the developments could create a “window of opportunity” for the jailed ex-PM to return to mainstream politics afterwards.</p> <p>Providing his “political advice”, the PML-N leader said Imran should not resist the idea as he did not have any “fundamental objection” to new provinces.</p> <p>Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2043859/ppp-has-no-objection-to-creation-of-new-provinces-except-in-sindh-murad">voiced</a> opposition to the division of Sindh into smaller provinces — although, he said on Wednesday, the PPP had no objection to the creation of new provinces in other parts of the country if their people so desired.</p> <p>He stated that the division of Sindh was “neither legally nor politically acceptable, as the people of the province had repeatedly rejected the idea through their elected representatives”.</p> <figure class='media w-1/2 sm:w-1/3 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/2028603'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/2028603" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>The defence minister recently <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2043163">argued</a> that Pakistan could have as many as 12 provinces if the exercise was guided by administrative requirements rather than linguistic, ethnic or political considerations.</p> <p>He maintained that the country’s growing population necessitated smaller administrative units capable of delivering public services more efficiently.</p> <p>However, the PML-N has so far refrained from articulating a formal policy, saying it will present its position when the matter comes before Parliament.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.