Barrister Gohar Ali Khan says the opposition is readying an All Parties Conference (APC) to build a consensus on the creation of new administrative provinces. The move marks a shift in the PTI’s legislative strategy as it seeks to broaden its political footprint beyond its traditional strongholds.
Speaking to reporters, the PTI leader framed the initiative as a response to administrative mismanagement in larger provinces. He argued that current governance structures have failed to deliver basic services to the grassroots, leaving the public with little choice but to demand smaller, more manageable administrative units.
The APC will serve as a testing ground for opposition unity. While the PTI holds the lead, the success of the initiative hinges on bringing smaller nationalist and regional parties to the table—many of whom have held conflicting views on provincial autonomy in the past.
Critics within the ruling coalition have already dismissed the move as a political maneuver rather than a genuine constitutional effort. They argue that redrawing provincial boundaries requires a two-thirds majority in parliament—a threshold the opposition remains far from reaching.
Gohar, however, insists the timing is right. He pointed to the growing economic disparity between urban centers and rural peripheries as the primary driver for the push.
“We aren’t just talking about maps,” Gohar said, sidestepping questions about potential friction with provincial governments. “We are talking about bringing the state closer to the people who have been ignored for decades.”
The opposition’s roadmap remains thin on specifics. There is no official date for the conference, nor has the party released a draft of the proposed provincial boundaries.
For now, the proposal serves as a pressure tactic. By centering the debate on administrative reform, the opposition is attempting to force the government to defend the status quo—a position that grows increasingly difficult as public frustration with centralized governance mounts.
Whether this leads to a formal constitutional amendment or simply another cycle of political gridlock, the call for new provinces is back at the heart of the national discourse.
