Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman has said that Pakistan's challenges cannot be resolved through the use of force, stressing that the country needs dialogue, constitutional governance and national consensus to overcome its political and security crises, 24NewsHD TV reported.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta on Tuesday, Fazlur Rehman said the creation of new provinces is an administrative matter and is common in many countries.
However, he stressed that Pakistan's unique political and constitutional structure must be carefully considered before any such decision is made.
Referring to the recent debate sparked by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on the formation of new provinces or administrative units, the JUI-F chief questioned whether the proposal reflected the minister's personal opinion or had the backing of the prime minister, the federal cabinet or another authority.
He said there is nothing inherently wrong with creating new provinces, but asked whether the country is prepared for such a step.
He insisted that the people should be consulted and that the views of every province must be taken into account before making any decision.
Fazlur Rehman emphasised that national identities and public sentiment cannot be ignored, remarking that provinces are not "a cake that can simply be cut however one wishes."