New provinces, referendum debate must be settled i...

Summary

• Discussing constitutional amendments, Sanaullah recalled that political parties had held extensive consultations with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman before reaching an agreement on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
• However he said the government had not yet made preparations for the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment or begun consultations with political stakeholders.
• Sanaullah also highlighted the issue of transferring powers to local governments arguing that although the 18th Amendment shifted authority from the federal government to the provinces provincial administrations had not adequately devolved those powers to lower levels.

AI Generated Summary

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah has said that any decision on the creation of new provinces including whether a referendum should be held on the matter must be taken by Parliament.

Speaking on a programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Sanaullah said Parliament was the appropriate forum to decide whether a referendum was necessary and determine the question that would be put before voters.