Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that before discussing the creation of new provinces, the Punjab Assembly’s already-approved resolution regarding South Punjab should be implemented first. He stressed that the Senate committee had also recommended forming the South Punjab province, and any further proposals should come only after building consensus on what has already been agreed.
Speaking to reporters, the former foreign minister was asked whether he supported dividing Punjab. Bilawal responded that he was referring strictly to the Punjab Assembly’s resolution and made it clear that he could not even imagine dividing the province. He pointed out that while a local government law was recently passed in Punjab, introducing a similar law in Sindh would have triggered strong backlash. He reiterated that new provinces must be created based on existing consensus, not by rushing to expand their number.
Bilawal said that even his presence in Punjab is “not welcomed,” adding that officials should instead focus on Sindh, where a new governor has yet to be appointed. He maintained that meaningful dialogue is essential for political stability, especially when asked about calls to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He said moving politics forward requires reconciliation, not escalation, and warned that continued confrontation would worsen the situation.
He noted that he has no personal grievances with PTI’s founder but disagrees with his political methods. If political actors cannot communicate, Bilawal warned, governance will deteriorate, and new problems will emerge. He claimed that where PTI is in power, its governance has “failed,” while attempts by the PPP to move forward are often met with further complications from the other side.
When asked whether he would visit Adiala Jail after meeting Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal said he had met the PML-N leader earlier but Sharif criticized them during a public gathering immediately afterward.
