Lahore, September 12, 2026: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that Parliament will ultimately decide whether new provinces should be created in the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore on Saturday, Sanaullah said the debate over new provinces should be taken up in Parliament rather than at business forums, seminars or through social media.
“In my humble opinion, this debate should have been started in Parliament,” he said, adding that issues of such magnitude should involve all political parties and provincial leadership.
Sanaullah said any decision on the creation of new provinces would be made by Parliament. He noted that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also linked the creation of new administrative units to public demand.
“If the public wants, then no one can stop it,” Sanaullah said, adding that determining public opinion on the matter was ultimately a matter for Parliament.
He said the PML-N was deliberating on the issue and would issue a policy statement after participating in the debate and when the matter reached a forum where a meaningful outcome could emerge.
The adviser said no minister had so far raised the issue before the federal cabinet, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would issue appropriate directives once the matter was discussed.
He also said that even if a referendum were proposed to gauge public opinion, parliamentary approval would be required.
Referring to the Sindh Assembly’s resolution opposing any division of Sindh, Sanaullah said the PPP had “overreacted” to the debate.
PML-N, PPP differences largely resolved
Speaking about differences between the PML-N and PPP, Sanaullah said most of the issues between the two coalition partners had been resolved.
He said the remaining differences would also be settled amicably, as both parties were committed to resolving them.
Sanaullah said the core committees formed to address differences between the coalition partners should ideally meet every month, but meetings could not be held regularly due to elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
He expressed hope that the committees would now meet more regularly to address any remaining issues.
The adviser attributed much of the recent tension to emotionally charged election campaigns in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, saying that the campaigns had ended and tensions had consequently eased.
Government warns against violence during PTI march
Asked about the planned Jamaat-i-Islami march towards Islamabad on September 20 and the PTI march on September 27, Sanaullah said the government respected peaceful political protests.
He said JI had historically conducted its political activities peacefully and in accordance with constitutional and legal requirements. He added that the government had held negotiations with JI representatives and listened to their demands seriously.
Sanaullah urged JI leaders not to “overwork themselves needlessly”, saying the PML-N government and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also wanted fuel prices and electricity bills reduced.
Regarding the PTI’s planned march, however, he expressed concern that it could turn violent.
“If they are coming to Islamabad to overthrow the government and if this is their intention and thinking, then it is obvious that they will carry out violence after coming there,” he said.
Sanaullah said the government’s assessment was that a violent confrontation could resemble the events of May 9, warning that such a development would be unfortunate.
He said the matter was also before the courts and the government was awaiting their decisions before finalising its strategy, but stressed that violence would not be allowed.
