KP assembly in session. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
In a rare display of legislative unity, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly passed a unanimous resolution calling for the bifurcation of the province and the creation of a new Hazara province, which would include the Hazara region.
The opposition extended unconditional support to the provincial government in seeking the province’s “rightful share” at the upcoming meeting of the National Finance Commission (NFC) scheduled to be held in the federal capital on Thursday.
During the session, with speaker Babar Saleem Swati in the chair, member of the treasury, Nazir Abbasi, introduced a joint resolution on the creation of Hazara province under Article 239 of the constitution.
The resolution called on the provincial government to complete all constitutional, legal and administrative processes necessary for the new province and submit its recommendations to the federal government immediately.
It stressed that advisory and administrative measures should be carried out effectively to ensure that the long-standing aspirations of the Hazara people are fulfilled. The resolution also directed the government to prepare a detailed plan regarding the new province’s administrative structure and boundaries to prevent any delays in the constitutional process.
The assembly also unanimously approved a resolution recognizing former prime minister and founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as a “national martyr”. The resolution praised his political, democratic and national contributions and recommended that a copy be sent to the federal government to formally recognize his services at the national level.
Another important resolution, tabled by Awami National Party (ANP) member Nisar Baz Khan, called for limiting the use of public order (MPO) against political workers.
The resolution highlighted that the law has often been misused for political vendetta, especially against opposition members. Speaker Swati emphasized that the police should not facilitate administrative actions under the MPO.
Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi reiterated the Chief Minister’s stand that no political worker, irrespective of party affiliation, should face punitive action. Afridi added that the government is preparing changes to ensure that the MPO is not used for political victimization.
The assembly also addressed farmers’ concerns when cabinet member Abdul Kabir moved a resolution requesting the restoration of the tobacco quota. The quota had been reduced from 3 million tonnes last year to 1.5 million tonnes by the Pakistan Tobacco Board, causing widespread concern among growers. The resolution called for reinstatement of the previous year’s appropriation, and the House unanimously approved it.
A key focus of the session was KP’s share under the NFC, which determines the provincial allocation from the federal resources. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has formed a united front with opposition parties to demand KP’s “rightful share” in the NFC.
The province intends to demand an increase in KP’s share from 14.6% to 19.4%. Opposition members voiced strong support for the government’s stance, stressing that the issue transcends political lines and is crucial to the province’s development and welfare.
During the debate on NFC, the Finance Ministry including Abdul Karim Khan, Munir Hussain Laghmani, Dawood Shah and Special Adviser Shafi Jan highlighted that NFC issue is not only party specific but a matter of constitutional and economic rights of the province.
KP is also seeking to secure a higher grant for counter-terrorism, previously set at 1%. Legislators claimed that revenue from excess electricity, water consumption and other pending charges under the NFC have yet to be disbursed to the province.
Opposition lawmakers, including Arbab Usman, Nisar Baz Khan, Sardar Shahjahan, Ahmed Kundi, Ashbar Khan Jadoon and Amna Sardar, expressed their willingness to support the provincial government in pursuing these allegations at the upcoming NFC meeting on December 4. They emphasized that despite three PTI governments in KP, the province had not been an effective case of government in previous years.
In response, Minister Afridi elaborated on the government’s position, noting that KP has already contributed Rs80 billion of the Rs130 billion required for the expenditure of the merged districts. He said that under Article 107, KP’s NFC share is 14.62% and additional allocations must be ensured for counter-terrorism.
“Ensuring the province’s rightful share is essential for the region’s development and prosperity,” Afridi told the House. He emphasized that these resources belong to the people of KP and are not charity or aid. The assembly agreed to include proposals from all stakeholders to finalize a strong and unified provincial case for the NFC.
