ISLAMABAD: In a historic move, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling for the creation of Hazara as a separate province.
The resolution urges the provincial government to initiate all constitutional and legal processes necessary to forward the proposal to the federal government. This resolution seeks to fulfill the long-standing demand of the Hazara people for a distinct administrative and political entity.
Presented by Nazir Abbasi, a member of the ruling party, the resolution emphasizes the immediate implementation of the constitutional process under Article 239 of the Constitution, which is required for the creation of a new province. It also calls for the provincial government to finalize the administrative structures, boundaries, and other necessary arrangements efficiently to ensure the process is not delayed.
Alongside the resolution on Hazara, the assembly also passed a motion recognizing the late former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as a national martyr. The resolution acknowledged Bhutto’s significant contributions to the nation and recommended that the federal government formally recognize him as such.
The assembly further passed a resolution calling for restrictions on the use of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance against political workers, a measure often criticized for being used retaliatory against political activists. Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi stated that the government is preparing amendments to prevent punitive actions against political workers, regardless of their party affiliation.
In response to concerns raised by local farmers, the assembly also passed a resolution demanding the maintenance of last year’s tobacco quota of 30 million tons, after the Pakistan Tobacco Board proposed a reduction to 15 million tons.
The upcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting on December 4 also saw K-P government members and opposition parties united in their call for a larger share of federal resources. The government is pushing for an increase in KP’s allocation from 14.6% to 19.4%, including a one percent allocation for counter-terrorism efforts, reflecting the province’s increased population and the integration of former tribal areas.
Minister Meena Khan Afridi emphasized that K-P is asserting its constitutional rights, citing the province’s significant financial contributions, including Rs. 80 billion for the merged districts.
The session, led by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, concluded with the unanimous passage of all resolutions, signaling a unified stance on various political, administrative, and financial issues.
