PESHAWAR: President Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senator Afrasayab Khan Khattak on Wednesday declared the demand of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for creation of new provinces in the country a political gimmick and said the Altaf Hussain-led party violated the Constitution by submitting a resolution in the National Assembly for it.

The ANP leader told a news conference at the press club here that MQM wanted bifurcation of Sindh province but couldn't openly say it fearing public backlash and that its support for new provinces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab on ethnic basis was to grab public attention and sympathies.

Flanked by provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain and party leaders, he said under Article 239 of the Constitution, resolution for a new province was to be submitted to the relevant provincial assembly for essential approval by a two thirds majority and in that light, the tabling of resolution for new provinces in the National Assembly was nothing but a political stunt of MQM.

He questioned the sincerity of the MQM's call for new provinces and said if the party was sincere about the welfare of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, then 'it should stop sending bodies of innocent people' to the two provinces.

“Our party is not opposed to the idea of new provinces but wants that every step in this respect should be taken strictly in accordance with the country's Constitution,” he said. He said ANP acknowledged Seraiki area of Punjab as a separate unit and favoured its turning into a province as its people had been struggling for their right since long.

He said creation of Hazara province in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not feasible as three districts, including Battagram, Torghar and Kohistan, were opposed to it and favoured a status of Abaseen division for it.

Mr Khattak said an area comprising two or two and a half districts couldn't be made a separate province.

“The government is going to create Abaseen division comprising three districts, including Battagram, Kohistan and Torghar,” he said, adding that the government wanted to bring administrative reforms in the province.

The ANP leader asked MQM to bring a positive change in its behaviour, make policies for other communities, too, let others live peacefully and stop sending bodies to other provinces and said it was in the country's best interest.

“It is ironic that MQM is not ready to create another district in Karachi but demands creation of new provinces in the country,” he said, adding that the Altaf Hussain-led party's call for new provinces was based on bad intentions and therefore, it was unfeasible.

Mr Khattak asked MQM to take proactive steps to end the killing of people on ethnic basis in Karachi for durable peace. When asked about the proposed 20th constitutional amendment, he said political parties were at odds over the idea and therefore, it approval by parliament wasn't possible.

When asked about allegations against MQM of Jinnahpur's creation in Karachi, he said the party wanted a separate state for logistic and shipment purposes in the port city and that it was willing to create a province in Sindh.