Lahore : Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said he was not opposing the creation of new provinces, but never said that Karachi be made a separate a province either.
Shahbaz said that he was questioned whether new provinces of Bahawalpur and Seraiki should be made, and in response to that, he had said that not only should these provinces be created, but if necessary other provinces should also be made.
He said he had just been speculating about the possibility and not suggesting that Karachi should be made a separate province or that Karachi should be separated from Sindh, the Dawn reports.
Earlier, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) have criticised Shahbaz over the issue.
PPP leader Agha Siraj Durrani had said his party would never allow break-up of the province, while an MQM spokesman said the party would not let Sindh be divided under any circumstances.
ANP Sindh chief Shahi Syed said Shahbaz's statement had greatly disappointed people in the province. ANI
