ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: Having completed the process of public hearings and received briefings from experts, the controversial Parliamentary Commission on New Provinces in Punjab is now set to start its internal discussion and finalise its report for presentation before the National Assembly.

This was said by Senator Farhatullah Babar, chairman of the 12-member commission, while talking to Dawn after presiding over a meeting of the commission which was held in camera and attended only by four members on Monday.

Sources said the meeting was delayed for a considerable time for lack of quorum as only two members – Kamil Ali Agha of the PML-Q and Arif Aziz of the PPP – were present besides Mr Babar when the commission went into the session. One-third members of the commission are needed to complete the quorum and the meeting started only after a member, Sughra Imam of the PPP, arrived.

Mr Babar said three more people belonging to south Punjab had briefed the commission on the issue of proposed division of the province to create one or more new federating units. He said Mehmood Nizami from Taunsa and Sheikh Badar Munir, secretary general of Seraiki Wasaib Movement, spoke in support of creation of one large Seraiki province whereas Abdul Jabbar Abbasi from Bahawalpur called for division of Punjab into two federating units.

Mr Babar said the commission in its 10 sittings had heard viewpoints of over 30 experts and stakeholders besides receiving about 1,800 ‘communications’ through emails, post and fax. A summary of presentations and communications had been prepared and it would be provided to the members of the commission to seek their views, he added.

Responding to a question, he said the summary would also be sent to the members of the commission belonging to the PML-N who had been boycotting the proceedings.

He said the commission’s job was only to submit its proposals to the speaker and the future course of action would be decided by the National Assembly. He acknowledged that without the consent of the Punjab Assembly, new provinces could not be carved out in the province.

About the expiry of the 30-day period on Jan 10 within which the commission is required to submit its report to the National Assembly, Mr Babar said it was only a procedural issue and the commission could seek extension from Speaker National Assembly.

He refused to give a timeframe for completing the job, but vowed to do it “as early as possible”.

The commission will now meet on Thursday.