Judge walks out after uproar in Aleema case

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has announced plans to approach political parties across the country to launch a “grand national dialogue” on the creation of new provinces and administrative units. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, MQM-P Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said Pakistan needed a serious national discussion on restructuring its administrative system, arguing that the country’s growing population had increased the need for additional provinces. Siddiqui said MQM-P had been advocating the creation of more provinces for decades, maintaining that Pakistan’s existing provincial structure was largely shaped by linguistic considerations rather than purely administrative requirements. He stressed that the party’s demand was not limited to Sindh and that it would support calls for new provinces wherever there was public and political backing. The MQM-P leader urged political parties to sit together and discuss their proposals and reservations instead of treating the issue as a source of political confrontation. He said his party was prepared to take the lead in initiating such a dialogue. Siddiqui also linked the debate over new provinces with the need to strengthen local governments. Referring to Article 140-A of the Constitution, he said provinces were constitutionally required to devolve political, administrative and financial powers to elected local representatives. He criticised the failure to fully implement the provision and recalled that MQM-P had previously approached the Supreme Court over the issue. He argued that creating additional provinces was not unconstitutional and said Parliament could debate the appropriate mechanism for establishing them. He also questioned whether existing provinces should have the sole authority to decide on their own division. MQM-P leader and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the party’s proposal was aimed at administrative restructuring rather than dividing communities or territories. He argued that people should have greater control over local leadership and governance, particularly when their cities face serious problems in living standards and public services. The MQM-P campaign follows recent remarks by Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, who called for political parties to address major national issues, including the creation of new provinces. His proposal has since generated debate among government figures, lawyers and political circles, giving fresh momentum to the long-running discussion over Pakistan’s provincial structure. The MQM-P leadership said it would also engage legal experts and explore further legal avenues regarding the implementation of constitutional provisions related to local governance.