President House denies Zardari, Naqvi discussed new provinces

ISLAMABAD: The President House on Friday rejected media reports that President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had discussed matters related to the new provinces during a meeting held a day earlier.

The clarification followed reports claiming that Zardari and Naqvi had discussed the possible creation of new provinces during their meeting in Nawabshah on Thursday night.

“There is no truth to media reports suggesting that matters concerning the provinces were discussed during the interior minister’s meeting with the president,” a President House spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the meeting focused on national security and the regional situation.

“Matters concerning national security and the regional situation were discussed during the meeting. However, no discussion took place on matters related to provinces,” the statement added.

No official handout had initially been issued about the meeting, which came amid renewed debate over the creation of new administrative units in the country.

Naqvi earlier called for the creation of new provinces, arguing that Pakistan’s existing governance system required restructuring.

Earlier, the interior minister proposed holding a referendum on the creation of new provinces, saying the matter should ultimately be decided by the people rather than prolonged political disagreement.

Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Naqvi said political parties could hold different views on the issue, but argued that public opinion should be sought to settle the debate.

“We all talk about democracy and say that the people are supreme,” he said.

“If the people say new provinces should not be created, I will be 100 per cent with them that they should not be created. If the people say they should be created, then they should be created.”

Naqvi said surveys and public discussions appeared to indicate support for the creation of new provinces but maintained that the appropriate way forward was to formally seek the people’s opinion.

He said political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), had their own positions on the issue, while some had yet to publicly clarify their stance.

“Everyone has the right to hold their own position,” he said. “But, in my view, the best solution is to take the opinion of the people.”