ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: The controversial parliamentary commission on new provinces on Monday sought “written proposals” from all stakeholders on the issue of creation of one or more new provinces in Punjab.

Briefing reporters after presiding over the fourth meeting of the commission, its chairman Senator Farhatullah Babar said the commission had decided to seek within 10 days proposals from all those who were in favour of creation of one or more new provinces in Punjab.

He said the commission could call any person to appear before it to explain his or her proposal, if needed. The commission would also invite intellectuals and constitutional experts to hear their points of view on the issue.

Mr Babar explained that the commission could not hold its meeting over the past three months because it was awaiting a notification from the National Assembly speaker authorising it to formulate its own rules of business. The notification was issued on Dec 3 and now the commission would hold its meetings on a regular basis.

Mr Babar, who is also spokesman for President Asif Ali Zardari, said the commission would finalise its recommendations for presentation before the National Assembly as soon as possible. However, he refused to give any timeframe for completion of the task.

Mr Babar requested the PML-N members to end boycott of the commission. The PML-N members should express their reservations at the meeting, he said, adding: “Boycott will not solve the problems.”

He pointed out that the commission had been constituted in the light of a unanimous resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly.

Senator Haji Adeel of the Awami National Party, a member of the commission, stressed the need for creating new provinces keeping in view the availability of resources for new federating units.

He said the division of Punjab would also affect other three provinces since the new provinces would have to be given representation in the Senate and the National Assembly.

MQM, ANP PRESENCE: Commenting on the PML-N’s opposition to presence of the ANP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the commission, Haji Adeel said new provinces could not be created without amending the Constitution for which the support of members from the three other provinces was needed.

About the PML-N’s demand that new federating units should also be created in other provinces, he said the Punjab Assembly could not take decisions about other provinces.

Dr Farooq Sattar of the MQM said stakeholders should come forward and tell the commission about the divisions that should be included in the new provinces. He expressed the hope that the struggle of the people of south Punjab for their own province would soon become successful.