Islamabad: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, Senator Rana Sanaullah, has said that the creation of new provinces is not currently under consideration by the government, emphasizing that Pakistan’s existing parliamentary democratic system and the 1973 Constitution have successfully held the country together for decades and will continue to do so in the future.
Speaking during an interview on Geo Pakistan, Rana Sanaullah also defended the recently held Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, describing them as free, fair, and transparent. He expressed confidence that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would secure enough seats to form its own government in the region without relying on coalition partners.
Confident About PML-N Government in AJK
Commenting on the election results, Rana Sanaullah said voters in Azad Kashmir supported the PML-N after observing the development work carried out by the party in Punjab.
He claimed that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) entered the second phase of the elections while continuing what he described as a propaganda campaign against the electoral process.
The adviser said he expected the PML-N to win seven out of the remaining ten seats in the next phase of the elections. According to him, once all three phases of the electoral process are completed, the PPP will eventually accept the final outcome.
He further maintained that PML-N intends to establish its own government in Azad Kashmir rather than depending on political alliances.
Response to Bilawal Bhutto’s Criticism
Responding to criticism from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who questioned the transparency of the elections, Rana Sanaullah rejected the allegations of electoral irregularities.
He said Bilawal Bhutto was fully aware that the elections had been conducted in a free and fair manner and suggested that the objections being raised were politically motivated.
The remarks came after opposition leaders criticized the electoral process and challenged the credibility of the results.
No Discussion on Creating New Provinces
Addressing speculation regarding the creation of new provinces, Rana Sanaullah said the issue is not currently on the government’s agenda.
He stated that the PML-N has not held any meeting in which a formal position supporting the creation of new provinces was adopted.
According to him, there has been no policy discussion within the party regarding administrative restructuring through the establishment of additional provinces.
He emphasized that the government is presently focused on other national priorities rather than constitutional changes related to provincial boundaries.
Existing Constitutional System Is Sufficient
Rana Sanaullah strongly defended Pakistan’s parliamentary democratic system, arguing that there is no deficiency in either the Constitution or the existing political framework.
He said the 1973 Constitution has remained the foundation of Pakistan’s federation for the past five to six decades and has helped preserve national unity despite numerous political crises.
According to him, the country has experienced difficult periods, including military rule and constitutional disruptions, yet the Constitution continued to provide the legal framework that kept the federation intact.
He argued that the constitutional structure itself is not responsible for governance problems.
“The Problem Lies With Us”
The adviser maintained that shortcomings in governance stem from the failure of political actors and institutions to fully implement constitutional principles rather than from flaws within the Constitution itself.
He stated that if governments and state institutions sincerely follow the Constitution, the existing democratic system is capable of delivering effective governance and public service.
Conversely, he argued, repeated violations of constitutional norms and interference with democratic processes weaken the system and prevent it from functioning as intended.
According to Rana Sanaullah, no constitutional framework can perform effectively if those responsible for implementing it fail to respect its provisions.
Confidence in the Future of the Democratic System
Reaffirming his confidence in Pakistan’s constitutional order, Rana Sanaullah said the same parliamentary system has successfully served the country for more than half a century and remains capable of meeting future challenges.
He concluded that rather than replacing the existing system or pursuing structural changes such as creating new provinces, national efforts should focus on faithfully implementing the Constitution, strengthening democratic institutions, and ensuring the rule of law.
The adviser maintained that consistent adherence to constitutional principles would enable the current political system to continue serving the country effectively in the years ahead.
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