The Awami National Party has firmly rejected a recent resolution passed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly advocating for the creation of a separate Hazara province. The party's central leadership declared the move premature and lacking the necessary broader political consensus required for such a significant constitutional change.
ANP's Stance and Constitutional Concerns
In an official statement released from Bacha Khan Markaz, the ANP's central body criticized the resolution. The party argued that the creation of new provinces is a matter of immense national importance that cannot be decided by a single provincial assembly acting unilaterally. The ANP emphasized that any move to alter the country's federating units must follow a meticulous constitutional process and command wide-ranging agreement from all stakeholders across Pakistan.
The party expressed concern that such resolutions, passed without extensive dialogue, could inadvertently fuel ethnic and regional divisions rather than address genuine administrative grievances. The ANP leadership recalled that their own historical stance has always been in favor of creating new provinces on an administrative basis, not an ethnic one, to bring governance closer to the people.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly's Move
The controversy stems from a resolution presented in the KP Assembly, which sought the establishment of Hazara as a separate province. The resolution was debated and subsequently passed, triggering immediate reactions from various political quarters. Proponents of the Hazara province argue that it is essential for better representation and more focused development for the region's inhabitants.
However, the ANP's rejection underscores a major political hurdle. The party, with its strong roots in the province, holds considerable influence, and its opposition poses a significant challenge to the momentum of the Hazara province movement. The party insists that any such demand must first be thoroughly debated at the national level, involving the National Assembly and the Senate, to ensure the integrity of the federation is maintained.
Broader Implications and Political Reactions
This development has reignited the long-standing debate on the restructuring of provinces in Pakistan. It highlights the delicate balance between addressing regional aspirations and preserving national cohesion. The ANP's position suggests a fear that piecemeal approaches to province creation could set a problematic precedent, potentially leading to similar demands from other regions without a overarching national framework.
Political analysts suggest that the rejection by ANP may lead to increased political mobilization both by supporters and opponents of the Hazara province. The issue is likely to become a focal point in the political discourse of the region, especially in the lead-up to future elections. The response from other major national parties and the federal government to the KP Assembly's resolution is now highly anticipated.
The core of the dispute lies in the procedure: Is a provincial assembly resolution sufficient to initiate the process, or must the demand originate from and be vetted by the federal parliament? The ANP firmly believes in the latter, aligning itself with a more centralized, consensus-driven approach to constitutional amendments of this magnitude.
In conclusion, while the demand for a Hazara province has found formal expression in the KP Assembly, the path forward appears complex and contentious. The ANP's outright rejection signals that the proposal will face stiff political and procedural challenges, emphasizing that the dream of a new province requires a much broader national conversation and agreement than currently exists.
