SUKKUR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has questioned whether the country is prepared for the creation of new administrative units and provinces.
Addressing a General Council meeting in Sukkur, the JUI-F chief criticised the current political system and said that power in the country had effectively continued to alternate between major political leaders.
“We have governance from Nawaz Sharif to Zardari and from Zardari to Nawaz Sharif,” Fazlur Rehman said, referring to the political transitions between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
‘This Country Belongs to Us’
Fazlur Rehman also accused the government of attempting to deprive the nation of political awareness.
He said that Pakistan belonged to its people and that no one needed to obtain a certificate to prove their love for the country.
“The government wants to take awareness away from the nation,” he said, adding that citizens had a right to express their views about the country and its political future.
Questions Over New Provinces
Commenting on the debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units, the JUI-F chief questioned whether adequate preparations had been made for such a major administrative change.
“You have raised the issue of provinces; are you prepared for it?” Fazlur Rehman asked.
He specifically questioned the readiness of Sindh for any such development, saying that, in his view, Sindh was not prepared at all for the creation or restructuring of provinces.
His remarks come amid continuing political debate in Pakistan over administrative reforms and proposals for creating new provinces or administrative units.
Fazlur Rehman’s comments suggest that any decision to alter the existing provincial structure should be preceded by detailed political, administrative and constitutional preparation.
The JUI-F chief also emphasised the importance of political awareness and national ownership, arguing that citizens should be able to debate major issues concerning the future of the country without having their patriotism questioned.
The issue of new provinces has remained politically sensitive in Pakistan, particularly in relation to questions of governance, representation, resources and administrative efficiency. Any formal move toward creating new provinces would require significant constitutional and political consensus.
For now, Fazlur Rehman has questioned the preparedness of the government and provinces for such a major structural change, particularly highlighting Sindh’s lack of readiness in his assessment.
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