Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the decision regarding the “continuation” of the current system has already been taken during an important meeting of PML-N leadership in Murree, stressing that any step forward will remain within the constitutional framework.
Speaking on a private TV channel, Sanaullah clarified that the continuation could last for five years or even a decade, but insisted, “whatever happens will be in line with the Constitution.” He noted that senior PML-N leaders gathered in Murree to finalize this decision, adding that while some people had doubts, the leadership was already clear on the matter.
Turning to water issues, the prime minister’s adviser underlined the urgent need for political consensus on building new dams. He said, “Nothing is impossible. All political parties should sit together and create consensus. If one resolution has been passed, new ones can also be brought in light of climate change.”
His comments came as a fresh debate erupted over the Kalabagh Dam project following remarks by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Speaking to journalists, Gandapur strongly supported the dam’s construction, calling it a step in the national interest rather than a matter of provincial or personal politics. He argued that earlier investment in such projects could have prevented recent destruction and pointed to ongoing provincial dam projects in Lakki Marwat, Karak, and Peshawar.
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However, his statement triggered differences within PTI. Party Chairman Barrister Gohar welcomed the idea, saying all types of dams — big or small — including the Kalabagh Dam project should move forward with consensus among provinces. In contrast, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser dismissed Gandapur’s remarks as a personal opinion, stating the party does not consider the dam a priority and instead favors smaller projects to avoid reopening divisive issues.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan also weighed in, urging a national consensus on water management. He welcomed Gandapur’s stance and highlighted that Pakistan’s most pressing challenge is water scarcity. “Any dam should be built with mutual consent. The solution lies in bringing together all four provincial assemblies and their chief ministers to agree on a common water policy,” he stressed.
Rana Sanaullah, meanwhile, noted that Gandapur’s comments may have been aligned with the PTI founder’s long-standing wish for a presidential system. While Sanaullah dismissed the possibility of imposing such a system unilaterally, he reiterated that consensus and constitutional safeguards must guide all political and policy decisions.
