Parliament showdown looms over new units

Speaking to the media, the minister said Parliament House was the appropriate forum for debating the creation of new provinces. "Islamabad is not going to become a province," he said, adding that the federal capital was instead moving towards adopting a new governance model.

The minister clarified that there had been no proposal to turn Islamabad into a separate province. "I am in contact with other political parties, and their feedback will be incorporated in the draft, and all stakeholders, including the public, will be included.

After consultation, we will give it the shape of an Act, and the law ministry will guide us on whether we can pass this with a simple majority or a two-thirds majority in Parliament," Chaudhry said.

He said that Islamabad was the "collective area of the federation" where everyone had an equal share and represented the federation, adding that it was therefore not "technically possible to make Islamabad a separate province". The latest government announcement comes as the debate over new provinces has steadily widened into a politically sensitive issue, particularly in Sindh.

The debate began on July 30, when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for additional administrative units or provinces as part of a broader overhaul of the country's governance system. Naqvi argued that meaningful structural reforms were needed to improve governance, deliver justice and create opportunities for young people.

The proposal quickly drew strong opposition in Sindh, where the PPP rejected any move to divide the province. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah dismissed Naqvi's assessment that the governance system had collapsed, described the proposal as outdated and warned that no bloodshed would be allowed over the creation of new provinces.

The issue gained another political dimension in August when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) endorsed the creation of new provinces and called for a national dialogue among political parties. The party argued that Pakistan's growing population, poor governance and concentration of political power had made greater administrative devolution necessary.

Its position put the MQM-P, which is part of the federal coalition but sits in opposition in Sindh, at odds with the PPP over the issue. The PPP maintained that administrative reform and the division of Sindh were separate matters.

Sindh Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said the provincial government was willing to discuss steps to improve governance and devolve power, but rejected any attempt to link such reforms with the creation of a new province. The dispute reached the Sindh Assembly at the beginning of September.

On September 3, the house unanimously passed a resolution rejecting any proposal to divide Sindh or alter its territorial limits. The resolution described Sindh as a "historic, civilisational and constitutional entity" and declared that "Sindh is one and shall remain one".

However, Naqvi showed no indication of retreating from his position. On September 5, he said he would continue to support the creation of new provinces regardless of whether he remained in office, maintaining that the ultimate decision should rest with the people rather than politicians or governments.

He said the public should first be informed of the "pros and cons" of creating new administrative units before being allowed to decide. His position has also opened a constitutional debate over how public opinion could formally be established.

Questions have been raised about whether a referendum could be used to gauge support for new provinces. Article 48(6) allows a matter of national importance to be put to a referendum following approval by a joint sitting of Parliament.

However, a referendum itself would not create a new province, as any alteration to provincial boundaries would still have to follow the constitutional process. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on September 7 warned that dividing Sindh or any other province without the consent of its people and representatives would weaken the federation.

He called for the formation of a commission and extensive deliberations before the issue was brought before Parliament. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while acknowledging Sindh's right to take its own position, said a final decision would have to emerge through consensus.

Asif separately suggested that Islamabad could serve as a starting point for any future administrative restructuring, while Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah said the question of new provinces should be taken up at the relevant forums and resolved through consensus among political parties.