Zardari, Bilawal Vow to Oppose Any Division of Sindh After Five-Hour London Meeting
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — WEB DESK: President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have reaffirmed the PPP’s opposition to any division of Sindh following a lengthy meeting in London, as debate over creating new provinces and administrative units intensifies in Pakistan.
The two PPP leaders held talks for approximately five hours at President Zardari’s London residence, according to reports. Bilawal’s sister Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and her children were also present.
The discussions covered Pakistan’s overall political situation and the party’s position on proposals involving Sindh’s territorial division. Recent remarks by PPP leader Faryal Talpur were also discussed during the meeting.
Following the talks, the PPP leadership decided to maintain its position against any division of Sindh, with reports saying the party would not compromise on the issue.
Bilawal told journalists after the meeting that he would remain in London for the next few days and planned to interact with members of the media during his stay. He and Bakhtawar later left for their residence.
Sindh Assembly Rejects Division of Province
The London meeting came shortly after the Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing any attempt to divide the province or alter its territorial boundaries.
PPP leader Nisar Khuhro presented the resolution, which received the support of members present in the assembly. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also strongly rejected proposals to divide the province.
The issue has become increasingly prominent as political leaders across Pakistan debate whether creating additional provinces or administrative units could improve governance.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has proposed a national discussion on potentially creating up to 15 new provinces, while other political figures have advocated stronger district governments or administrative decentralisation instead. Dunya News reported his proposal among the major developments driving the current debate.
PPP leaders, however, have repeatedly stressed that any discussion involving Sindh must remain within the constitutional framework.
New Provinces Debate Gathers Momentum
The broader debate has expanded beyond Sindh. Political leaders have offered competing proposals on whether Pakistan’s growing population and governance challenges require additional provinces, stronger local governments or other administrative reforms.
Creating a new province requires a constitutional process rather than a unilateral executive decision. Under Pakistan’s constitutional framework, altering the boundaries of an existing province requires substantial parliamentary support as well as approval from the assembly of the affected province.
The PPP’s latest position therefore carries particular significance because of its commanding political position in the Sindh Assembly.
The five-hour Zardari-Bilawal meeting signals that the party intends to treat the issue as a major political priority as discussions over Pakistan’s future administrative structure continue.
For now, however, the proposals remain part of a political debate rather than an agreed national plan to redraw provincial boundaries.
