NA steams over debate on new provinces
06 January, 2012
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was as hot as June this Thursday after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) initiated a debate on its resolution, seeking the creation of new federating units in the country. The heated debate saw the main opposition party - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) - and a coalition partner of the government - Awami Naional Party (ANP) - standing tall against the MQM, which sought to create new provinces to prevent another breakup of the country. The ANP objected to the debate over the resolution, saying it was not on the order of the day. The party said allowing the resolution to be discussed in the House would be improper. Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and some PML-N legislators also expressed similar views. Divergent views over the issue led to so much disturbance in the House that Acting Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi was compelled to suspend the proceedings for 20 minutes, allowing all parties to evolve consensus before meeting of the session. When the proceedings resumed, ANP lawmakers walked out of the House in protest after the acting speaker allowed debate on the resolution. ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan said he was not against debating the issue, but "members should have been intimated in advance about it". "We should have been given time so that we could come prepared for the debate," he said. The ANP chief said his party would also oppose a bill for the creation of Saraiki province if presented in parliament. "According to the constitution, the provincial assembly concerned has to pass a resolution with a two-thirds majority before such a bill is presented in parliament," he said. Opening the debate, MQM's Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the sense of deprivation in different parts of the country was leading to a sense of alienation among the people, which could have serious problems. He warned that East Pakistan-like situation was in the making inside Pakistan, mainly due to reservations of the people of those areas. He rejected the notion that creation of new federating units was tantamount to dividing the country. Farooq sattar said the MQM was ready to support the people of Malakand Division and FATA in getting their separate provinces if they desired. PML-N stalwart Sardar Mahtab Khan Abbasi said the creation of new units was an important and sensitive matter, which needed seriousness. Abbasi hit back at the MQM, saying that the party was not allowing creation of a district in Karachi. He also talked about the voices coming from Bahawalpur region for the restoration of the provincial status. JUI-F lawmaker Laiq Muhammad Khan also supported the MQM's move, but by PML-N legislator Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar interrupted his speech intermittingly, which led to an exchange of harsh words between the two. End.
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