BATTAGRAM: As the debate over the creation of new provinces and administrative units in the country has resurfaced, the movement demanding a separate Hazara province has once again gained momentum.

However, the call for Hazara province was unanimously rejected by political and social leaders of Battagram during a multi-party conference here on Saturday.

With the political leadership of Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur holding consultative meetings and awareness sessions regarding Hazara province in their respective districts, the Awami National Party’s Battagram chapter called the multi-party conference on the issue.

Demands creation of Abaseen Division

ANP district president Riaz Khan told participants that most of the people in Hazara Division were Pakhtuns, who rejected the demand for the creation of Hazara province and wanted the government to establish a separate division, Abaseen, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Gulfam Sabir said that the political leadership of Hazara Division, following the enactment of the 18th Constitutional Amendment during the ANP government, had opposed the naming of the province as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He emphasised that the only solution to the issue was to create the Abaseen Division comprising Battagram, Allai, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas and Pakhal areas.

Akhter Javed Khan of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that certain elements had made a failed attempt to pave the way for Hazara province but the people of Battagram rejected their plan, observed a shutter-down strike and staged protests against them.

President of the District Bar Association Rasool Khan told participants that lawyers were opposed to the creation of Hazara province and demanded the establishment of Abaseen Division.

“The lawyers will fully support this cause,” he said.

Former minister Bakht Nawaz Khan of the JUI-F said his party’s position regarding new provinces and administrative units was very clear that the country urgently needed peace and economic stability.

He said that there was no urgency for new provinces.

“We reject the idea of forming the Hazara province and demand of the government to establish the Abaseen Division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

ANP former district president Ayaz Khan announced that representatives of all political parties, social activists, trader bodies and student federations had unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the call for Hazara province and demanding the establishment of the Abaseen Division.

He announced that a committee would be constituted to visit neighbouring districts to seek the people’s support for the creation of the Abaseen Division.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2026