Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has made an important statement regarding the ongoing debate over the creation of new provinces in Pakistan. He said that even if a referendum is held on the issue, the final decision will have to be made through Parliament. He also clarified that no formal proposal regarding new provinces has yet been presented before Parliament.
Speaking during Geo News’ morning program Geo Pakistan, Rana Sanaullah discussed the possibility of creating additional provinces and explained the role of Parliament in making such decisions.
He questioned who would authorize a referendum on the creation of new provinces, emphasizing that Parliament would play a central role in the process.
According to Sanaullah, the issue has not yet been formally brought before Parliament, and any future proposal would require proper parliamentary consideration.
He stated that once the matter reaches Parliament, the government will present its policy statement, followed by a detailed discussion among lawmakers.
The adviser stressed that even if a public referendum takes place, it would not automatically settle the issue of creating new provinces.
Under Pakistan’s Constitution, changes to provincial boundaries require constitutional procedures, including approval by a two-thirds majority in the relevant provincial assembly.
The creation of new provinces has remained a subject of political discussion in Pakistan, with different proposals raising questions about administrative arrangements, political representation, and the distribution of resources.
However, Rana Sanaullah did not announce any government decision to create new provinces or provide a timeline for a possible referendum.
During the same television appearance, the prime minister’s adviser also commented on recent meetings between former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his lawyers.
He confirmed that two of Imran Khan’s lawyers had met him and said their conduct following these meetings would become clearer in the coming days.
Sanaullah claimed that the lawyers had discussed political matters after meeting the former prime minister, which could create difficulties in arranging future meetings.
He suggested that such meetings should be used for legal consultations rather than political activities.
Referring to earlier political developments, Rana Sanaullah said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had previously announced a long march and that efforts were made to persuade the party to reconsider its approach.
He claimed that various assurances had been offered during those discussions.
According to the adviser, restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan had been imposed because of concerns that the meetings were being used for political purposes.
These comments reflect the government’s position on the issue, while the arrangements for legal meetings remain subject to applicable court directions.
Returning to the debate over new provinces, Rana Sanaullah reiterated that Parliament would have to consider the matter before any final decision could be reached.
His remarks come as discussions about administrative restructuring and the possible creation of additional provinces continue in Pakistan.
For now, there has been no official announcement regarding the number of proposed provinces, their boundaries, or the date of any referendum.
The next major development will depend on whether a formal proposal is introduced in Parliament and how political parties respond to it.
Until then, the question of whether Pakistan will establish new provinces remains unresolved.