Islamabad(The COW News Digital)Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticized the government’s proposal to create additional provinces, arguing that the move is inappropriate at a time when parts of the country are facing serious challenges.
Speaking to reporters in Khanewal, Punjab, during a visit to inquire about the health of JUI-F leader Allama Ikram-ul-Qadri, Fazlur Rehman said the Constitution was being undermined and described the reported plan to establish 15 provinces as a wrong decision.
“The Constitution is being made a mockery,” Fazlur Rehman said, expressing strong reservations about the government’s approach toward administrative restructuring.
He questioned the government’s priorities, saying that two provinces were already facing severe unrest while the authorities were focusing on discussions about creating new provinces. According to the JUI-F chief, the government had also lost the confidence of the people, making such a major administrative decision even more questionable.
Fazlur Rehman also criticized the earlier decision to merge the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that the merger had produced serious consequences and described the decision as a failure.
His remarks come amid renewed political debate over the possibility of creating additional administrative units in Pakistan. Supporters of new provinces argue that smaller administrative units could improve governance and allow governments to address local issues more effectively. Opponents, however, have raised concerns over political, constitutional and administrative complications.
The JUI-F chief also disclosed that his party was holding talks with both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He said discussions were underway to develop a joint strategy in parliament.
Fazlur Rehman indicated that opposition parties could coordinate their positions on major national issues and formulate a common course of action inside the assemblies.
The debate over new provinces is expected to remain politically sensitive, particularly as parties differ over the constitutional process, administrative boundaries and the potential impact on provincial politics. Fazlur Rehman’s latest comments signal that JUI-F is opposed to the government’s reported plan in its current form.
