ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday called for an immediate debate in the National Assembly on the issue of provincial autonomy, saying the situation was critical.

Speaking at a news conference, MQM’s parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar, MNAs Haider Abbas Rizvi, Iqbal Mohammad Ali and Ikhlaque Abidi regretted that while the current National Assembly session was about to end in a few days, but no debate was held on the issue.

Dr Sattar said the provinces should be given complete autonomy in accordance with the Pakistan Resolution of 1940 to bring the country out of the crises. “We … believe that we are wasting another opportunity to resolve a basic problem,” he added.

The MQM leader said that they had been given indications that the provincial autonomy issue would be brought before the assembly for a detailed discussion during the current session.

The MQM leaders said the party had already sent its recommendations regarding the provincial autonomy to the relevant officials and the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB), stressing the need for amending the constitution.

They said that the party had recommended that “the centre should retain only three subjects namely, defence, foreign affairs and currency” and the remaining subjects should be handed over to the provinces.

The MQM, they said, also wanted the constitution of the Council of Common Interest as a permanent body to resolve disputes between the centre and the provinces and amongst the provinces.