DNA
LONDON: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari held an important meeting with his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, in London, with the party deciding to maintain its position against any division of Sindh, sources said.
The five-hour meeting was held at Zardari’s residence in London and was also attended by Bilawal’s sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, according to the sources.
The sources said Bilawal and Zardari discussed the political and overall situation in Pakistan, while the PPP’s position on the division of Sindh was also deliberated.
According to the sources, the meeting ended with a decision to stand firm on the party’s stance against dividing Sindh. The speech delivered by PPP leader Faryal Talpur was also discussed during the meeting, they added.
The meeting comes amid renewed political debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units in the country.
The Sindh Assembly on September 3 passed a resolution rejecting any proposal to divide the province, alter its territorial boundaries or create new administrative units.
The resolution also stated that the assembly would not consent to any territorial alteration involving Sindh.
The development followed renewed calls from political figures for restructuring Pakistan’s administrative system.
Bilawal, in recent remarks reported by DNA News, said the PPP’s position on new provinces was clear and that such decisions should be taken through consensus.
Referring specifically to Sindh, he said the matter should be discussed in the provincial assembly.
Bilawal has also previously said that the PPP would remain on the side of the people on the issue of provinces and would support moves taken through consensus.
Following the London meeting, Bilawal and Bakhtawar left for their residence. Bilawal told reporters that he would remain in London for the next few days.
The latest debate began in late July when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan’s governance system had “collapsed” and called for new administrative units, saying they could be called provinces or something else.
He also advocated devolving powers to lower levels.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal later proposed creating 12 to 15 provinces, calling for a national debate and political consensus on administrative reforms.
The proposals drew strong resistance in Sindh, with the PPP opposing any move to divide the province.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif then accused the party of a “double standard”, saying it backed a Saraiki province in Punjab while raising Sindhudesh when wider restructuring was discussed.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah subsequently said the PML-N considered the debate premature, while the PPP maintained that provincial questions should be debated through the assemblies.
