July 13, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1428

QUETTA, July 12: Former federal minister and Pashtun Province Movement Balochistan chairman Mir Haji Tareen has said that formation of new provinces will promote harmony among different ethnic groups and strengthen the federation.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club, he asked the ruling and opposition parties to propose amendments in the Constitution for the formation of new provinces.

He said the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Sher Afgan, should accept the ground realities and table a bill in parliament for the formation of new provinces instead of tabling the 18th amendment to grant autonomy to the existing federating units.

He said the prevailing uncertainty in the country had been caused by what he called the unnatural formation of the existing provinces which was also creating misunderstandings among different ethnic groups.

Haji Tareen said the Pashtuns in Balochistan wanted a separate province which should have its own identity.