KARACHI: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal has said the Constitution provides a clear legal pathway for creating new provinces, arguing that those opposing new provinces are effectively “disagreeing with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto”, who kept the relevant provisions in Pakistan’s Constitution.
Addressing a large public gathering organised by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) party in Karachi, Kamal declared that there was nothing “unconstitutional or treasonous” about the creation of new administrative units, as former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had enshrined the provisions of Article 239 in the Constitution, safeguarding the right to create new provinces.
‘Those who disagree are disagreeing with Bhutto’
Kamal issued a sharp rebuke to critics of the MQM-P’s push for administrative reforms, stating that those opposing the creation of new administrative units were effectively “disagreeing with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.”
He noted that to create new provinces, a “two-thirds majority” was required from the assembly, adding that there had already been 27 amendments to the Constitution and there remained “space” for one more amendment.
The minister argued that Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan were larger than hundreds of countries in terms of population and territory, suggesting that administrative restructuring should not be considered taboo.
Accusations of neglect and discrimination
Kamal launched a scathing attack on the Sindh provincial government, accusing it of failing to recognise Karachi’s true population and denying the city its rightful resources.
“We knocked on the door of the federation over the wrong census. Even today, we do not accept the count of 2.3 crore as the correct figure,” he said, claiming that President Asif Ali Zardari had acknowledged Karachi’s population exceeded 35 million, while the census had been halted after counting only around 13 million people.
The minister alleged that the health system had been destroyed, with 80 per cent of Karachi lacking access to water, which he claimed was stolen and sold back to citizens by tankers. He also accused authorities of selling jobs by creating fake domiciles from Karachi’s quota.
Criticism of PPP and call for rights
Kamal accused the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of opposing the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments concerning local governments, adding that the federal government had asked them to withdraw their opposition, as the amendments could not be passed without the PPP’s support.
“We knocked on the door of the federation over the wrong census. Even today, we do not accept the count of 2.3 crore as the correct figure,” he reiterated.
He warned that the people of Karachi would eventually take to the streets to demand their rights, accusing the PPP government of “the worst governance.”
PIMS tragedy and future rallies
Commenting on the tragic fire at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad in which 14 children died, Kamal expressed deep sadness and clarified that he had not blamed anyone for the deaths.
He also announced that a gathering of Pakhtuns would be held at Sohrab Goth on September 27, with rallies subsequently planned in Larkana after events in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Mirpur Khas.
Kamal concluded that those running Pakistan had realised the country could no longer be governed effectively under the existing system, reiterating that after the creation of new administrative units, MQM-P would itself fix and strengthen local government institutions.
