Hashmi's call: Consensus must for new provinces, says PML-N

Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz Information Secretary Mushahid Ullah Khan, while giving the briefing on PML-N’s strategy on the issue of new provinces, said that is the issue of national level, therefore all the parties inside and outside the parliament should be included in discussion.Earlier taling to the media at his residence in Multan, PML-N leader Javed Hashmi said Punjab should take the lead and set up new provinces on administrative basis rather than ethnic lines. He also suggested that the province comprising Bahawalpur and Multan should be named Punjnad. However, he added that he only suggested a name and that a new name could be decided with referendum.Javed Hashmi said also took a swipe at the Peoples Party, saying the ruling party is threatening Pakistan’s security. In the same breath, he called Nawaz Sharif the country’s most popular leader, saying PML-N’s support was crucial for the formation of new provinces in Punjab.Hashmi repeated that he would support legislation to create a new province in south Punjab. “The creation of new provinces is necessary to improve quality of governance and people’s living standard in the country.”