Asif says devolution of power is 'inevitable', accuses PPP of having contradictory stance on new provinces

Asif notes devolution of power is 'inevitable', accuses PPP of having contradictory stance on new provinces.

Key points

• News Desk Published September 5, 2026 Updated September 5, 2026 10: 36am.
• Talking to Dawn on Friday, PPP Parliamentarians Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari sought the prime minister's position on the matter.
• Responding to a question regarding the local administration system in the country, Bokhari noted any move in that regard must additionally follow the Constitution, particularly Article 140-A.
• On Friday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) was denied the opportunity to present a resolution against the "Sindhudesh movement".
• When there is talk of a Saraiki province in Punjab, the PPP supports it or demonstrates a soft corner on this problem.

News Desk Published September 5, 2026 Updated September 5, 2026 10: 36am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

According to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has, the devolution of power is "inevitable", while additionally accusing the PPP of having a contradictory stance on the matter of new provinces.

"When there is talk of a Saraiki province in Punjab, the PPP supports it or demonstrates a soft corner on this problem. And when there is talk of multiple provinces or administrative units instead of four, talk of 'Sindhudesh' begins, " he remarked in a post on the social media platform X late Saturday night.

On Friday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) was denied the opportunity to present a resolution against the "Sindhudesh movement". The PPP had slammed the party for attempting to "mislead the people" by tabling the resolution.

According to Asif, he saw "something else" behind this "dual policy" by the PPP, adding that he would delve into this deeper "when the time comes".

"We are first and foremost Pakistanis. Devolution was decided as a constitutional principle through the 18th Amendment. It was not respected. Time and circumstance demand that it be implemented with integrity, " he remarked.

He remarked that concentration of power had produced the current system obsolete. It needed to be "corrected".

"Provinces or administrative units, whatever label you want to apply. You have 36 divisions, employ them, or devise some other administrative-geographical scheme. The devolution of power is inevitable, " he remarked.

Asif's remarks come as the PPP, a key ally of the PML-N-led ruling coalition, has questioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's silence over the debate on creating new provinces and sought his stance on the matter.

For context, the PPP had earlier maintained that any move to create extra federating units must follow the procedure laid down in the Constitution. Nevertheless, the PPP-led Sindh administration on Wednesday obtained a resolution passed by the provincial assembly opposing any further division of the country's existing four provinces.

Although there has been no official confirmation regarding the origin or contours of any proposal, a debate over the creation of new federating units has continued for the past couple of months in different circles. Nevertheless, some ruling-party leaders and federal cabinet members have publicly expressed backing for the idea at different forums, including parliament.

Though no official plan has been unveiled, media reports have suggested proposals ranging from eight to as plenty of as 30 provinces.

According to Bokhari, if the administration was serious regarding increasing the number of provinces, it should first bring the matter before the federal cabinet, after which the prime minister should take all stakeholders and political parties on board.

While deliberations preceding the 18th Constitutional Amendment had lasted for more than a year, he recalled that consultations between the administration and political parties had continued for months during the framing of the 1973 Constitution.

Bokhari, who additionally raised the problem during a talk show on DawnNewsTV on Friday, noted the consent of the provinces was essential for carving out new federating units. He remarked any such move would additionally require the necessary constitutional amendment to be passed by both the National Assembly and Senate with a two-thirds majority.

For context, the PML-N-led administration enjoys a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly with the PPP's backing. Therefore, if the PPP pulled back its backing, it would become impossible for the administration to implement the idea.

Responding to a question regarding the local administration system in the country, Bokhari noted any move in that regard must additionally follow the Constitution, particularly Article 140-A. It provides for the establishment of local governments by the provinces.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday reiterated that no preparations were at present under way for the creation of new provinces.

Sanaullah informed a private television channel that no bill or resolution regarding the creation of new provinces had been presented in parliament.

He remarked consultation and consensus among political parties would be essential before any such bill or resolution could be brought before parliament.

Responding to a question, he remarked there was at present no discussion under way regarding the division of the existing provinces.

In short, asif says devolution of power is ' inevitable' , accuses PPP of having contradictory is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.