Support for Hazara province in KP Assembly, thanks to PTI

Delawar Jan

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly said they would support the creation of Hazara province by endorsing a resolution in the assembly submitted by three party representatives from Hazara Division if the PTI leadership told them to do so.

The support has significance because it came from PTI MPAs elected in the Pakhtun-belt of the province. The Hindko-speaking people in Hazara division started a violent struggle for a separate province in anger against renaming of the erstwhile NWFP in 18th amendment in 2010. This was celebrated as success in the Pakhtun-belt by Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and others, as they saw it achievement of identity for Pakhtuns.

There was hardly any support for Hazara province in the previous assembly dominated by ANP and PPP. However, this assembly has negligible presence of ANP and PPP and there seems to be support for Hazara province. PTI has allowed its three MPAs from Abbottabad—Mushtaq Ghani, Qalandar Lodhi and Sardar Mohammad Idrees—to submit the resolution in the assembly that is likely to be tabled in its ongoing session.

PML-N that is supporting the demand of the Hazara people also has 17 members in the assembly. If passed, this would be the first resolution in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly that would support the division of the province and the creation of the new province.

“We support the demand for Hazara province,” said Fazal Elahi, a PTI MPA from rural Peshawar. “We have no objection to this demand and there exists no differences in our party on the issue,” he added. The MPA was confident that their support would not annoy their voters. Certain other PTI members of the assembly shared this opinion.

Mahmood Jan, another PTI MPA from a rural constituency in Peshawar, favoured creation of more provinces and said it would have no negative impact. “If Afghanistan and India could have a large number of provinces why couldn’t we have?” he argued. “Hazara province is not the people’s issue. People want relief from price-hike, measures against corruption and other issues that affect them,” he added. He said the party had not discussed this issue yet as it was the initiative of ‘a few people.’

It appears the PTI has not briefed its lawmakers on its policy on Hazara. Amjad Ali, a PTI MPA from Swat, also said the party had yet to hold discussions on the issue.

Some members privately said the resolution appeared a political gimmick as it would not result in the creation of Hazara province. The PTI’s willingness to allow the three lawmakers to submit the resolution seems to be an attempt to please them and placate the people in Hazara.

PTI promised during the election campaign that it would support the creation of Hazara province. The PTI’s official version on Hazara province could not be obtained. Ishtiaq Urmar, PTI’s provincial information secretary, did not answer calls. The central spokesperson Shireen Mazari ignored calls and a text message.

Amjad Ali, the MPA from Swat, added new dimension to the submission of resolution for Hazara province. “Though I don’t oppose Hazara province, I will better wait for the party policy. But if new units as small as Hazara could be created, then Malakand division better qualifies for a new province,” he said. “And such a demand can also come from the southern districts,” he added, warning it could open a Pandora’s box.

Amir Muqam, PML-N leader from Shangla district of Malakand division, has many times taken up demand for status of province to the seven districts of the division. However, he or any other leader did not turn the demand to a struggle.