• President, prime minister insist any move to create new provinces must follow Constitution
• Zardari reiterates PPP’s opposition to division of Sindh
• Naqvi’s ‘message’, Imran’s situation also discussed

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday agreed to “strictly adhere to constitutional provisions” governing the creation of new provinces or administrative units, with any proposed referendum on the contentious issue also requiring parliamentary approval.

Official sources privy to the development told Dawn that the understanding was reached during a meeting between the two leaders at the prime minister’s Model Town residence, amid a fresh debate over the creation of additional provinces and a proposal by the interior minister to seek public opinion through a referendum.

President Zardari, who was accompanied by former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, made it clear that the PPP’s position remained aligned with the Sindh Assembly’s resolution opposing the creation of new provinces.

He stressed that any move in this direction must strictly follow the procedure prescribed by the Constitution, a position endorsed by PM Shehbaz, the sources said.

PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and the prime minister’s sons Hamza and Suleman were also present at the meeting.

The two leaders also agreed that parliament could not be bypassed in deciding whether a referendum should be held and what questions should be put to the public, according to the sources.

“The majority in parliament will decide whether a referendum is to be held and what its question(s) should be. Without consensus, the matter cannot move an inch. Parliament cannot be bypassed,” an official source quoted the meeting as agreeing.

The discussion came two days after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi floated the idea of holding a referendum to gauge public opinion on the creation of new provinces or administrative units, arguing that the exercise could settle the debate once and for all.

He had also assured political parties that they would be taken on board before any decision was finalised.

However, the PPP leadership appears unwilling to soften its position, particularly on Sindh.

The party has consistently invoked a unanimous resolution passed by the Sindh Assembly opposing the province’s division, maintaining that it reinforces its position against any such move.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other senior party leaders have repeatedly declared that the division of Sindh is neither legally nor politically acceptable to the party.

The debate has also highlighted differing positions within the ruling coalition.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently argued that Pakistan could have as many as 12 provinces if the exercise was guided by administrative requirements rather than linguistic, ethnic or political considerations.

He maintained that the country’s growing population necessitated smaller administrative units capable of delivering public services more efficiently.

However, the PML-N has so far refrained from articulating a formal policy, saying it would present its position when the matter came before parliament.

Naqvi’s message, Imran’s issue

The sources said President Zardari and PM Shehbaz also held a brief one-on-one meeting to discuss a message reportedly conveyed to the president by Interior Minister Naqvi during his recent visit to Nawabshah.

The issue of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan also came under discussion.

According to the sources, the meeting was informed that Mr Khan’s recent hours-long interaction with his lawyers and the release of his two sisters from jail were not linked to any particular behind-the-scenes deve­lopment.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders held detailed discussions on the country’s overall political, economic and security situation, emphasising coordination among the ruling coalition partners.

The official statement did not specifically mention the discussion on new provinces or the proposed referendum.

PM Shehbaz also briefed President Zardari on his recent visit to Turkiye, where he attended the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) and highlighted Pakistan’s efforts on climate action.

The two leaders exchanged views on cooperation among allied parties, continued consultation and progress on public welfare initiatives. They reaffirmed their commitment to working together to accelerate economic stability and development, the statement added.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026