Maimuna Ashraf
Exclusive Article
The idea of creating new provinces is very much in debate, list of resolutions for creation of new provinces in Pakistan created a great hype publicly. Different views are coming up upon this separation, some are of the view that new provinces will improve and simplify public management and governance, some think it will be helpful in reducing ethnic tensions between communities and others says this making will turn into breaking of Pakistan. However before reaching to any end, we need to ponder upon the actual reasons behind this move. Is it really a move to satisfy the demands of people? Will it bring any development? Is it going to resolve all the issues or it will be an addition to sack of problems? Is division is a criteria to unite the nation?
The schema turn up overtly when Yousaf Raza Gillani in starting June, while talking to reporters after addressing a public meeting at Jalalpur Pirwala declared, that masses would soon see advancement on Saraiki province as PPP and other political parties are in favour the creation of this province. This approach hoisted issue that is it the proper channel to announce province or it would be better to present it in National Assembly? After PM statement a series of statements started, PML-N fell in line with a declaration that a National Commission should be established to create new provinces all over Pakistan. The statement became the news headline but no letter was written to PM for this suggestion. Consequently both statements were blamed for non-serious attitudes from two big parties. Following the footsteps Ch. Zaheerudin of PML-Q and Shahid Anjum of PML-Zia submitted resolutions in Punjab Assembly for the formation of a new Southern Punjab province and for the restoration of provincial status of Bahawalpur, respectively. Afterward ANP president in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Afrasiab Khattak stressed for the formation of South Pakhtunkhwa province in Balochistan, while Ali Haider Niazi of MMA also came up to scene with a resolution demanding Thal province. This queue is also followed by Dr. Nazir Bhatti of the Pakistan Christian Congress who is demanding the formation of a Christian province in Southwest Punjab. In context of all these proclamations does it appear that all these political parties are fighting for the betterment of nation? In fact it clearly demonstrates that division of provinces has become a political stunt; where every political party is doing mere politics and nothing else. Shahid Anjum and Ali Haider both are part of the government alliance in Punjab so does it mean that PML-N is choosing coalition partners to demand for others provinces in order to neutralize the demand for Saraiki province?
Those who are presenting the sense of deprivation and unequal distribution of resources as a reason behind their demands for new province, do they mean that areas having such issues should be turned into new provinces? Then I guess we will have to make several divisions in Pakistan. Here is another argument which is coming up by masses that why only Punjab is being targeted, when the government has majority in Sindh Assembly and Karachi is the biggest and most overwhelmed city at time then why not to start with Sindh first? Does it imply that any conspiracy is going on against Punjab? Therefore the temperatures are rising all over; members of political parties are insulting and abusing each other on division contradictions. Dozens were killed in rioting, which once held for a mere change of name from NWFP to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa so one can imagine the blood shedding upon the division of provinces. The Sindhi nationalists have already said that their province will only be divided over their dead bodies. There is already no dearth of violence in Karachi and no more bloodletting can be welcomed in any other part of Pakistan. It appears all this is indulging the nation into detrimental debate which will sow the seeds of hatred for each other. There is another group which favors division of provinces on administrative grounds; hence this argument totally depends upon the intention behind this new provinces establishment. Are we sure it’s not a political move and it’s purely for the betterment of Pakistan so this stance should be supported?
If we look at issue in light of law, the 1973 is the consensus document binding the federation. It neither recognizes nor foresees the further division of Pakistan into more provinces. Hence the constitution didn’t provide for creation of new provinces unless an amendment is carried out therein and for this it is mandatory that the Senate, National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies pass resolution with two-thirds majority to express will of the people. Well, honestly speaking this doesn’t seem to happen in near future at least.
Hence no one seems serious and this non-serious issue is indulging all into a crap discussion. If we will continue to linger on this discussion it will weak the federation and will split the state because all seems too obstinate to divide the country on ethnic and language basis. Such situations always turned out hazardous, we have the examples of Chiku Slovakia, Bosnia, Serbia, East Timor and Sudan. We are already unable to handle four provinces; we are unable to resolve the issues of these provinces then how we can look for making more and that too not based on administrative grounds. The call for more provinces is nothing but reckless an ethically bankrupt desperation of politicians which are worried for next election. Obviously there must be a national slogan capable enough garnering votes in next election.
Consequently it’s clear that the idea of new provinces is being promoted by the elements of ethnicity, division, dialect, regionalism and parochialism. The devastating situation in Sindh and Quetta are example of what the language based division could bring about. Every new province created will be for some ethnicity and people will be living in that province as though it’s their own kingdom, rather than a part of Pakistan. We already lost East Pakistan because of ethnicity. We should focus on the real issues rather than pulling other issues in focus. We are facing economic meltdown, terrorism, foreign interference, water crisis, poverty and illiteracy, the list is interminable and these are more significant problems demonizing the masses, we need to resolve these first. It is foolish if we are heading to fix our country with divisions. Divide and Rule policy will not work for resolving issues. The concept of making new provinces is just like opening a ‘can of worms’, every one is coming up with a new demand of separate province. Where the concept of one country has gone? Where the vision of Quaid-e-Azam has gone for which we migrated to seek a better Muslim Country. We really need to comprehend that such divisions will lead us to destruction!
