KARACHI, Jan 12: The chairman of the Sindh National Front Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has warned that if autonomy was not given to the provinces in accordance with the Pakistan Resolution, the remaining country could face further disintegration.

Sardar Bhutto, who is a former chief minister and governor of Sindh, as well as an ex-federal minister, was addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday.

He pointed out the tendencies prevailing in the country, and said that two tribal Jirgas held in Balochistan had already signalled people’s inclination towards separation while in FATA also, after retreat of the army, Taliban had established their virtual rule.

He said that such developments and the conditions prevailing in the country were manifestation of the fact that present system had failed to deliver. He said the situation was demanding a switch over to a system of multi-nationality instead of centralisation for which full autonomy to all provinces was a prerequisite to ensure integrity as enshrined in the Pakistan Resolution.

Sardar Bhutto said that he had sent his proposals regarding provincial autonomy to the Federal Minister for Inter-provincial coordination Salim Saifullah Khan.

In reply to a question, he said that if all the subjects meant for provincial government were not given to them in accordance with the Pakistan Resolution, the situation would turn worse than what it had been after the government amended the Hudood Ordinance.

In reply to another question, he said that there was no provision for an office of the governor as under the new system, there would not no room for a slot of governor. As such, he added, one of his recommendations was elimination of the position.

The SNF chief said that his proposals for the autonomy included the one that the head of state should be the president of the country who should be elected for a four-year term by members of the Senate and provincial assemblies while the federal cabinet should be headed by a prime minister with powers to nominate members of his cabinet.