President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed on Saturday to strictly adhere to constitutional provisions when considering the creation of new provinces or administrative units, Dawn reported.
The high-stakes meeting took place at the prime minister’s Model Town residence in Lahore as debate continued over Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's proposal to hold a public referendum on administrative decentralization.
The closed-door huddle addressed growing coalition friction over redrawing Pakistan’s administrative map, News18 reported. President Zardari arrived in Lahore following discussions with Naqvi in Nawabshah, which had fueled speculation regarding behind-the-scenes legislative maneuvering on the contentious 28th Constitutional Amendment.
During the meeting, Zardari reaffirmed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s opposition to any division of Sindh, citing a unanimous resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly. Both leaders concluded that parliament cannot be bypassed on the matter of a referendum.
President @AAliZardari visited today the residence of Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Model Town, Lahore. Read More: https://t.co/QJKIXpjPoS pic.twitter.com/OlnfAfhCvZ
“The majority in parliament will decide whether a referendum is to be held and what its question(s) should be. Without consensus, the matter cannot move an inch. Parliament cannot be bypassed,” official sources told Dawn, outlining the consensus reached between the two leaders.
Coalition Divisions Over Smaller Administrative Units
The push to carve out new administrative units has exposed sharp fault lines within the ruling coalition. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently argued that Pakistan could benefit from as many as 12 provinces to improve public service delivery for a growing population. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has withheld a formal policy statement until the issue reaches the floor of parliament.
President @AAliZardari in a meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. pic.twitter.com/fudqjO8OaF
The Pakistan Peoples Party remains firm against the division of Sindh.
Political Discussions and Regional Briefings
In addition to the territorial debate, Zardari and Shehbaz held a brief one-on-one discussion regarding a message delivered to the president by Interior Minister Naqvi, alongside talks concerning jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. According to official sources, the meeting said that Khan’s recent interactions with his legal team and the release of his sisters were not tied to any specific political deal.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement confirming that the two leaders reviewed political, economic, and security conditions. Prime Minister Shehbaz briefed President Zardari on his recent visit to Türkiye, where he attended the 31st Conference of the Parties to discuss climate action initiatives, sabahnews.net reported. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining inter-party coordination to secure economic stability.
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Provinces Debate
Why is the creation of new provinces a controversial topic in Pakistan?
Proposals to divide existing provinces or create smaller administrative units have sparked intense debate due to competing views on administrative efficiency and ethnic representation. While figures like Defence Minister Khawaja Asif argue that smaller units improve governance for a growing population, parties like the Pakistan Peoples Party strongly oppose the division of Sindh based on provincial assembly resolutions.
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari meets Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at his residence in Lahore, today. pic.twitter.com/iS4ZEaw9EZ
What role does parliament play in the proposed referendum?
President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed that parliament cannot be bypassed regarding any public referendum on administrative units. Official sources reported that a parliamentary majority must decide whether to hold a referendum and determine the specific questions put to the public.
Who attended the high-level meeting in Lahore?
The meeting included President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, alongside former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla.
What did the Prime Minister’s Office emphasize in its official statement?
The official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office focused on the country’s overall political, economic, and security situation, as well as the prime minister’s recent visit to Türkiye for the 31st Conference of the Parties.