Mohsin Naqvi proposes referendum on new provinces to settle debate

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday proposed that political parties hold a referendum on new provinces or administrative units in Pakistan.

Answering a media question at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) office in Lahore, he called it the “solution” to a debate he has driven for months.

Why did Mohsin Naqvi propose a referendum on new provinces?

Naqvi said every party has the right to disagree with another party or an individual, but all of them stress democracy and the supremacy of the public. He said that is why the issue should go to a referendum and that he would accept the result either way.

“My only request to all political parties is that this is such an issue … so they should hold a referendum,” he said.

“If the public says … I am 100 per cent with them that they should not be created. And, if the public says they should be made, then they should.”

He said that if anyone has a “better solution” to propose, it should also be put before the people. “My only recommendation is that if we were to conclude this debate, then we should just take the people’s opinion,” he said.

How did the debate over new provinces begin?

The debate began when Naqvi called for new administrative units, saying the current system of governance had “collapsed” and needed a “reset”. The remarks have caused a political storm over the past few months.

In September, he said any new units would be formed only with the public’s consent, while repeating his call for new provinces.

What are the political parties’ positions on new provinces?

Naqvi said parties hold different positions on the issue. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has “its own stance”, he said, and some other parties have positions they have not stated officially.

He also said the coalition partners matter to the government. “Everyone is a part of this government, and nothing will happen against their will and if something does happen, then it will be after taking everyone’s consensus,” he said.

What did Naqvi say about Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s call for a political reset?

Asked about PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Naqvi said the two were “nearly on the same page”. Bilawal said on Tuesday that a “political reset” was needed, with all parties uniting for the country instead of engaging in “unnecessary debates”.

Naqvi said: “He (Bilawal) said that political matters are about to be reset, while my suggestion is that overall matters are about to be reset.”