New Provinces Referendum: Naqvi Floats Public Vote Plan

The new provinces referendum idea landed in the middle of Pakistan's politics on Thursday.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi proposed a public vote on creating new provinces.

He said the result should guide political parties on the contentious issue.

Speaking to journalists in Lahore, he called it the best way to end the debate.

Hours later, he flew to Nawabshah for a late-night meeting with the president.

The Express Tribune reported that new provinces topped the reported agenda there too.

Between the remarks and the meeting, the new provinces referendum became the story of the day.

What Naqvi said about a new provinces referendum

Naqvi spoke to journalists during a visit to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency in Lahore.

He said most survey reports suggest new provinces should be created for better governance.

"We all talk about democracy," the interior minister told reporters.

"Parliamentarians represent the people of Pakistan," he added.

He requested all political parties to consider holding a referendum on the issue.

"If people say in a referendum that provinces should be formed, we should go ahead with it."

He called the exercise the best way to put an end to this debate.

Dawn reported that he also assured parties they would be taken into confidence.

"Nothing will happen against their will," the minister said.

He added that anything done would happen after taking everyone on board.

He also challenged critics of the proposal to offer their own alternatives.

Those opposing new provinces, he said, should present better options for public consideration.

The new provinces referendum proposal is not a formal government bill yet.

No date, question wording or legal framework for a vote has been announced.

Naqvi has argued for months that Pakistan needs more administrative units.

He says the existing system of governance has collapsed and needs a reset.

The new provinces referendum and the Zardari House meeting

The new provinces referendum remarks were only half of Thursday's story.

That night, Naqvi made an unscheduled visit to Nawabshah in Sindh.

The Express Tribune reported he held a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari.

The meeting took place at Zardari House and lasted nearly an hour.

Sources told the paper it ran for about 59 minutes in total.

According to those sources, new provinces were discussed in detail.

The possibility of holding a referendum on the issue also came up.

Sources claimed Naqvi carried an important message from a senior national figure.

He reportedly sought to take the president into confidence on the matters.

No official statement was issued about the meeting or the message.

One reported proposal envisages reorganising Pakistan into 12 provinces.

A nationwide referendum could come ahead of a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment.

None of those reported plans has been confirmed by the government.

For now, the new provinces referendum depends heavily on what the PPP decides.

Why parties are split on new provinces

The PPP has strongly opposed proposals to create new provinces in Sindh.

That position puts the president's party at odds with the new provinces referendum push.

Any change in Sindh's boundaries would need support the PPP has not offered.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has taken a more open line on the question.

He has argued Pakistan could have as many as 12 provinces one day.

His condition is that units be based on administration, not language or ethnicity.

He says the growing population needs smaller units that deliver services efficiently.

Supporters say smaller units bring government closer to citizens in remote districts.

Opponents warn that new units raise costs and stir ethnic tensions.

They also note that creating provinces requires amending the constitution.

That process demands a two-thirds majority in parliament.

It also needs the consent of the provincial assembly whose boundaries would change.

A new provinces referendum would not remove those hurdles by itself.

It would, however, give parties a public verdict to argue from.

Political reset talk and what happens next

The referendum remarks came alongside talk of a broader political reset.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called for such a reset recently.

He urged political parties to set aside differences in an economic crisis.

Asked about that call, Naqvi said they were almost on the same page.

"He has talked about a political reset," the minister said.

"My suggestion is to reset many other things too."

Naqvi was also asked about a possible deal involving Imran Khan.

He dismissed the speculation about any behind-the-scenes arrangement.

He said Imran Khan would get only the relief the courts grant him.

The minister also acknowledged that corruption exists across the country.

"It is our responsibility to eliminate it," Naqvi said.

For the new provinces referendum, the next step sits with the parties.

If major parties agree, a framework for consultation could follow.

Either way, the new provinces referendum has restarted a national conversation.

new provinces referendum: common questions

What did Mohsin Naqvi propose on new provinces?

He proposed holding a referendum so the public can decide whether new provinces should be created. He said the outcome should guide political parties and settle the debate.

Where did Naqvi make the new provinces referendum proposal?

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists during a visit to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency in Lahore on Thursday, Dawn reported.

What happened at the Zardari House meeting?

Naqvi met President Asif Ali Zardari in Nawabshah on Thursday night for nearly an hour. Sources told The Express Tribune that new provinces, a possible referendum and JUI-F matters were discussed. No official statement was issued.

Does the PPP support creating new provinces?

The PPP has strongly opposed proposals to create new provinces in Sindh, according to Dawn. That stance makes the party's response to the referendum idea crucial.

Would a referendum alone create new provinces?

No. Creating or altering provinces requires a constitutional amendment with a two-thirds majority in parliament and the consent of the affected provincial assembly. A referendum would only measure public opinion.

How many new provinces are being discussed?

No official number has been announced. Reports have suggested a proposal to reorganise Pakistan into 12 provinces, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the country could have as many as 12 on administrative grounds.