Daily Times

Most of the country’s politicians seem best at the game of playing with the feelings of the downtrodden masses on one account or another and why not? The grievances of common Pakistanis have been numerous since many decades and it is easier to trick them by painting pictures of green pastures promising them a good future. This handy tactic has been used once again and this time in a unanimous move by all the political parties across the divide in the Punjab Assembly (PA). They passed two resolutions in favour of carving out two new provinces out of the Punjab on Wednesday. The demands include elevation of the former princely state of Bahawalpur to a province, creation of a new province called Southern Punjab, and constitution of two separate national commissions to decide all basic matters with regard to the constitutional, geographical, political, administrative, financial and legal status of these two prospective smaller provinces.

The demand for the constitution of these national commissions should be enough to expose the so-called resolve of the political parties that have passed these resolutions unanimously, brushing aside the scheme clearly enshrined in the constitution in sub-clause 4 of Article 239 on how to amend the geographical boundaries of an existing province. Admitted, the unanimous resolutions of the PA fulfil the first step in the process of creating new provinces. However, the aim then requires a constitutional amendment to be passed by two thirds majorities in the National Assembly and Senate. Our history is replete with the creation of such national commissions, which have neither actually addressed an issue meaningfully nor delivered any workable solution. The demand for their constitution is often made as commissions have been proved as a successful formula to raise a hue and cry over an issue for expedient political reasons and later dump it for good by using dilly-dallying tactics.

Provincial autonomy has been a long-standing demand of the people of Bahawalpur and the Seraiki belt. They have been feeling deprived and neglected since long. Besides them, people from some other parts of the country are also calling for provincial autonomy and/or new provinces. Regrettably, the Punjab Assembly’s recent move in this regard is just a political gimmick at a time when the general elections are approaching and both the federal and provincial governments have little in hand to attract the electorate in their election campaigns. The extremely poor level of their performance in almost every sphere is too evident. For the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), despite the fact that Southern Punjab has been its traditional stronghold, it is important to create an issue strong enough to win it back the support of its otherwise dejected voters. For the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), it seems politically wise to agree to the demand for a Southern Punjab province in the backdrop of the momentum generated by the PPP’s surge in favour of Punjab’s division. The realisation also seems to have dawned on it that by posing itself as a sympathiser of the aggrieved people of the Seraiki belt, it can gain political mileage. Similar have been the intentions of other political parties in this purely expedient political game. To add its two cents worth to muddying the water for political considerations, the PML-N has thrown in the Bahawalpur province demand for good measure.

The matter is grave and sensitive. There is a need to seriously deliberately upon it and address it according to the wishes of the people. Playing politics with this issue clearly reflects the shortsightedness, vested interests and immature approach of most of our political parties for whom votes, not voters, matter the most. *