National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed heated debate on resolutions moved by Muttahida Qumi Movement (MQM) for creation of new provinces in Hazara and South Punjab.

On a point of order MQM's Haidar Abbas Rizvi said his party had submitted resolutions for new provinces of Hazara and South Punjab and the business of the House should be suspended to discuss the resolutions.

Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah that his party was in favour of new provinces but proposed that it was a constitutional matter, hence before discussing it in the House, the government would like to take on board other allied parties.

Sheikh Aftab of PML-N suggested that before discussing the issue in the House, it should be taken up first at the Business Advisory Committee. "The matter is of great national importance and a haste in discussing it at this time will serve no good."

PML-Q's Sheikh Waqas Akram supporting MQM's point of view said that creation of new provinces is necessary to address peoples' problems in a better way. "Formation of new provinces will help solve peoples grievances and governance issues."

Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, while opposing discussion in the National Assembly, said as the matter was related to provinces the concerned provincial assemblies should discuss it.

He said his party, ANP had never talked about the division of Sindh and Punjab so others should also avoid talking about division of his province. "Let the provincial assemblies discuss about the formation of new provinces or otherwise."

But the MQM lawmakers kept on insisting that the issue should be discussed during Tuesday's sitting.

Nawab Yousuf Talpur, who was in the chair, suspended proceedings for 20 minutes due to uproar. However, it took 45 minutes to resume the proceedings.