ISLAMABAD - The new provinces issue dominated the National Assembly session on Wednesday as treasury and opposition benches kept giving assurances of their sincerity to form the provinces, but a clear line of divide was visible between the ruling alliance and PML-N on the matter.Though the main opposition party in the lower house, during the heated debate on the issue, also staged a walkout for a short time, they rejoined the house with the same vigour and continued dispelling the impression that their party was against the new provinces in the Punjab. The members of the ruling PPP, having full support of its coalition partners on the new provinces, urged the opposition benches, PML-N, to adopt a clear stance on this matter.“Come what may, we would get our provinces. Go against the demand or support it as double game would not work in this matter,” said MNA Raza Hayat Hiraj, advocating the cause to carve out the new provinces. Hinting at PML-N, he said they should adopt a clear stance instead of making their position ambiguous. He was of the view that Lahore was getting more funds as compared to the rest of the districts.In response to him, Tehmina Daultana argued that there should be a proper commission to see the matter of the new provinces. “Only a drama is going on. We will not accept this joke with the people of South Punjab,” she said, taunting the ruling party. She added they could not even trace the killers of their leader (late Benzir Bhutto) in their era. Another PML-N leader, Rana Tanvir, said: “If PPP makes serious efforts, we will fully support it. PPP simply scores points on this issue,” he said and added a resolution to carve out new provinces was first unanimously passed by the Punjab Assembly.However, a senior PML-N legislator, Sheikh Rohail Asghar, adopted a clear stance with the argument that there was need to save the existing provinces first. He pointed out the law and order situation in the country was not satisfactory. The discussion on new federating units was started by PPP lawmaker from Balochistan Changez Jamali who strongly criticised Punjab for benefiting from the resources of the country during the last 65 years. “All the funds are being spent on Lahore, so voice is being raised from South Punjab,” he said, adding it was the right of the South Punjab people to raise their voice.Earlier, MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada vociferously opposed new units and noted that if a single province was formed, the country would no more survive. He was of the view that the Constitution didn’t allow any new federating unit.PPP Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the Constitution allowed carving out new provinces if a commission proposed to do so. He was of the view that the Constitution could also be changed if a parliamentary commission proposed new geographical boundaries of the provinces under Article 1 of the Constitution.Kaira also asked Riaz Pirzada to avoid using derogatory remarks about politicians, which were, later, expunged by the chair. Sardar Bahadur Khan Sehar from PML-Q also endorsed Kaira’s remarks. “Our culture and civilisation should also be respected as we have great regard for Punjabi language and culture,” said Sehar, speaking in support of South Punjab. Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-F did hat-trick of walkouts from the session against the governor’s rule in Balochistan, which was defended by the treasury, arguing the prevailing situation at that time in the province was deplorable.Speaking on a point of order, JUI-F lawmaker Aasia Nasir said the present worst situation in the province was an outcome of undemocratic actions like governor’s rule in the past. Qamar Zaman Kaira said the governor’s rule was imposed in Balochistan following in-depth consultation.Speaking on a point of order, PPP lawmaker Nadeem Afzal Chan said though the governor rule was not a good step, but it should be deliberated why this step was taken. He argued that not a single Shia was targeted after the governor’s rule in Balochistan.Later, the house passed The Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) Bill 2012.