ISLAMABAD - MQM wants major opposition parties to support it on the issue of establishing 20 new provinces in the country, as Muttahida has planned to forcefully raise this matter in and outside the parliament.
MQM, on the special instruction of party’s supermo Altaf Hussain, has started convincing major opposition parties (PPP and PTI) to join hands with it to force the government for the formation of new provinces, background discussions with MQM leaders left this impression.
The issue of making 20 new provinces in the country will once again be raised in the parliament after a gap of around two years. During the election campaign before 2013 polls, several calls were made in Punjab for new provinces but the issue disappeared after initial clamours.
The Sindh-based MQM has also submitted a resolution in National Assembly in the previous session with an aim to gauge the response of treasury benches.
Talking to The Nation, MQM’s lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi said Muttahida is in favour of formation of new provinces in the country. “We want other parties to join hands with MQM to carve out new provinces in Pakistan,” said Abidi, adding that new provinces are in favour the country. “MQM will surely raise this matter in the parliament as it is the need of the hour,” he added.
According to the resolution, submitted by MQM, at least 20 new provinces should be carved out in the country.
“The demand for new provinces is as old as political history of Pakistan,” says the resolution.