Fazlur Rehman New Provinces Remarks Demand Debate, Not Force

 Maulana Fazlur Rehman – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has once again spoken out on the growing talk around new provinces in Pakistan. Speaking at a large public gathering in Lahore, he made it clear that no decision on new provinces should be pushed through without proper discussion. His comments on Fazlur Rehman new provinces come at a time when the topic is already heating up across the country’s political circles.

The cleric was addressing a Khatm-e-Nabuwwat gathering held at Wahdat Road Cricket Ground. He reminded the crowd of September 6, 1965, calling it a day that stands as proof of how Pakistan has always defended its land and its people.

According to him, a country only becomes strong when its citizens feel safe and are treated with dignity. He believes the constant political fighting inside Pakistan has done more harm than good over the years.

He did not reject the idea of new provinces outright. Instead, he said the timing and the ground realities matter just as much as the idea itself. Rushing such a major decision, in his view, would be a mistake.

Fazl also brought up the 18th Amendment, pointing out that provinces already hold rights over their mineral wealth. He feels political parties need to sit together and talk this through properly instead of acting alone.

He took a direct jab at two of the country’s biggest parties. The Pakistan Peoples Party, he said, only brings up this issue when it suits Sindh. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has stayed almost completely silent on the matter.

Beyond provinces, Fazl turned his attention to Pakistan’s money troubles. He argued that the country has leaned too heavily on foreign loans to survive.

In his words, old-style colonial rule may have ended long ago, but global lenders still hold power over Pakistan’s choices. He said depending on the World Bank and IMF for major economic decisions is simply colonialism wearing a new face.

The JUI-F leader stressed that Pakistan truly belongs to its ordinary citizens. Real peace, he added, can only come when people feel secure in their daily lives, not when the nation keeps splitting apart internally.

He also spoke about divisions within the wider Muslim world, saying his party’s real goal is to give Pakistan’s poorest citizens a life of respect and dignity.

Fazl was firm that politics built on privilege or forced control will never succeed. He believes real change only happens when ordinary people are heard, not ignored.

On a separate note, he confirmed that his party will stand firmly against any attempt to weaken or remove Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

This latest statement adds to an already heated national conversation. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had earlier said Pakistan’s governance system has completely broken down, pushing for new administrative setups. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal went further, suggesting the country could eventually see somewhere between 12 and 15 provinces.

Iqbal has also argued that running huge provinces from single capital cities like Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta no longer works. He wants power shifted closer to nearly 160 district-level governments instead.

For now, the debate remains split between two paths: redrawing provincial boundaries entirely, or simply handing more control to local and district governments within the current setup.