Internal rifts within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) surfaced on Monday as Muhammad Sajjad, a PTI MPA from Karak, openly challenged his own party’s move to create a separate Hazara province.
During a heated session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Sajjad questioned the legitimacy of a resolution passed weeks ago that demanded the division of the province. He demanded to know who authorized a handful of members to pursue such a constitutional change, noting that neither the central nor the provincial leadership of the PTI had officially endorsed the move.
“I oppose the division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Sajjad declared on the assembly floor, criticizing the haste with which the resolution was tabled and passed.
The resolution, originally moved by PTI lawmakers from the Hazara Division while Speaker Babar Saleem Swati (also from Hazara) presided, has exposed a growing divide. While lawmakers from the Hazara region push for autonomy, others like Sajjad argue the move lacks party-wide confidence and consensus.
Opposition Reactions, Financial Crisis
The Awami National Party (ANP) has already voiced its opposition to the division, while the PPP and JUI-F have largely remained silent.
Beyond the provincial status debate, the assembly addressed a deepening financial crisis. Amna Sardar (PML-N) raised an urgent call attention notice regarding hundreds of Local Government Department employees and pensioners who remain unpaid. She accused various Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) of corruption and financial mismanagement.
In response, Law Minister Aftab Alam defended the provincial government, stating that Rs1.3 billion had been released to TMAs. However, he admitted that these autonomous bodies had diverted the funds to other accounts instead of prioritizing salaries.
Local Government Power Struggles
The debate grew more contentious when Arbab Usman (ANP) accused the PTI government of intentionally crippling local governments. He alleged that after failing to win a majority in the 2021 local government polls, the provincial government curtailed the funds and powers of elected representatives, effectively handing control back to the bureaucracy.
Despite the internal friction, Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah offered a rare word of praise for Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi. He lauded Afridi’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, noting that the Chief Minister chose to prioritize provincial interests and federal cooperation over “street agitation” or party politics related to jailed leadership.
