President Zardari, Mohsin Naqvi Hold One-on-One Talks in London Amid New Provinces Debate
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — WEB DESK: President Asif Ali Zardari and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held an approximately hour-long one-on-one meeting in London on Wednesday, discussing national and political developments as debate over proposals to create new provinces gathers attention in Pakistan.
According to source-based reporting by Express, Naqvi conveyed an “important message” to the president during the private meeting. Neither the sender nor the contents of that message were disclosed publicly.
Sources said Zardari reiterated that he remained firm on his position on several national issues, particularly the ongoing discussion surrounding the creation of new provinces. The report did not provide details of any new proposal agreed during the meeting.
National Security and Political Situation Discussed
Separate reporting on the meeting said Zardari and Naqvi discussed the country’s law-and-order situation, national security and broader political developments.
Naqvi also briefed the president on his recent official engagements and other matters, according to Dunya News.
The discussions come at a politically sensitive time, with questions over administrative restructuring and the possible creation of additional provinces increasingly entering public debate.
However, Wednesday’s meeting produced no publicly announced agreement on creating new provinces, changing provincial boundaries or initiating a constitutional amendment.
That distinction is important because proposals for new provinces remain political ideas unless they pass the constitutional process required to alter Pakistan’s existing territorial structure.
Zardari Reportedly Stands by Position on New Provinces
The Express report said Zardari specifically conveyed that he would continue to stand by his position regarding the ongoing debate over new provinces.
It did not, however, provide a detailed new policy blueprint from the president or say that Zardari had endorsed a particular number of provinces.
The meeting follows renewed debate after Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently argued that Pakistan’s existing governance structure was no longer adequate and floated alternatives including creating 15 additional provinces or establishing around 160 empowered district governments.
Those suggestions are proposals for political and constitutional debate — not decisions already approved by the federal government or parliament.
Under Article 239(4) of Pakistan’s Constitution, a constitutional amendment altering the boundaries of a province requires passage by the affected provincial assembly with the votes of at least two-thirds of its total membership before it can be presented to the president for assent.
The creation of new provinces therefore cannot be accomplished simply through an announcement by an individual minister, political party or president.
Contents of Naqvi’s Reported Message Remain Unknown
The most politically intriguing element of Wednesday’s meeting is the source-based claim that Naqvi delivered an important message to Zardari.
No official details about the message were available in the reporting reviewed.
It would therefore be speculative to identify who sent it, what it contained or whether it related specifically to the new-provinces debate.
Express reported only that a message was conveyed during the meeting and that Zardari subsequently communicated his determination to maintain his position on various issues.
Before arriving for the meeting, Naqvi was approached by journalists in London and asked about Zardari’s visit to Britain. He responded that he had come only to meet him and declined to answer detailed questions, saying he was running late.
Meeting Comes After Recent Political Friction
The meeting also takes place against the backdrop of recent strains between the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which remain political partners at the federal level.
President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently sought to contain public disagreements between their parties, with the two sides agreeing to reduce public criticism and manage differences through political engagement.
Naqvi has also met Zardari on previous occasions during politically sensitive periods. A meeting between the two last month attracted attention amid broader speculation over Pakistan’s political direction.
Those earlier developments provide political context but do not establish the purpose of Wednesday’s undisclosed message.
Zardari Calls for Collective Approach
According to source-based accounts, Zardari also emphasised the need for stakeholders to work collectively on issues of national importance.
No formal joint statement detailing decisions from the hour-long London meeting was identified in the reporting reviewed.
The latest talks should therefore be treated as a high-level political consultation rather than evidence of an agreed constitutional or administrative restructuring plan.
For now, the clearest confirmed elements are that Zardari and Naqvi met privately for about an hour, discussed national and political matters, and that the president was reported to have reiterated his position amid the debate over creating new provinces.
