Daily Times

The long outstanding demand for creation of a new province in Southern Punjab seemed to have reached a point of crystallisation when the Punjab Assembly unanimously approved a resolution for the creation of the proposed province and the reinstatement of Bahawalpur State on May 9, 2012, in line with the spirit of Article 239(4) of the constitution. The hallmark of this development was that the resolution was moved by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) extended an unqualified support to the move. In the said resolution, the federal government was asked to immediately constitute a national commission to dilate on the proposition. It was also to look into issues relating to the fair distribution of economic and financial resources, geographical demarcation, allocation/readjustments of seats in the National Assembly, Senate and the provincial Assemblies concerned, including seats of minorities and women and other constitutional, legal and administrative matters. It is pertinent to point out that the demand for the creation of a new province in Southern Punjab also enjoyed the endorsement of almost all the political entities represented in the National Assembly, including MQM, ANP, PML-Q and JUI-F, meaning hereby that the proposal enjoyed national consensus.

In pursuance of this demand of the Punjab legislature, which obviously had the backing of the Punjab government, the National Assembly also adopted a resolution for the creation of a new province in Southern Punjab in May 2012. But immediately after the adoption of this resolution, the PML-N moved a resolution in the National Assembly for the creation of four provinces, namely Southern Punjab, Bahawalpur, FATA and Hazara. This clearly represented a somersault on its earlier stance and vitiated the spirit of the constitution embodied in Article 239(4) that required the concerned provincial Assembly to support the idea by a two-thirds majority before it could be presented and passed as a bill. The PML-N as the ruling party in Punjab and opposition in the National Assembly cannot ask for creation of new provinces from the other existing provinces unless the Assemblies of those provinces on their own volition urge the necessity of creation of new provinces by a two-thirds majority. It is also pertinent to observe that while the National Assembly resolution enunciated creation of one province in Southern Punjab, the commission constituted by the Speaker to deliberate on the issue has been asked to consider the creation of two provinces to accommodate the demand of the PML-N in conformity with the resolution of the Punjab Assembly.

The PML-N has also exhibited staunch opposition to the newly formed commission by the Speaker of the National Assembly comprising six Senators, six MNAs and two members of the Punjab Assembly to deliberate on the question of creation of two new provinces in Punjab in the light of the resolution of the Punjab Assembly and the National Assembly respectively. The Punjab Assembly has not as yet nominated the members to represent Punjab in the commission, which has also caused quite a commotion in the provincial Assembly session. The demand by the PML-N that the commission should not include members from other provinces except Punjab is simply untenable. Alterations in the boundaries of the provinces and the creation of new provinces are issues that relate to the federation as a whole and therefore need to be handled through broad consensus.

The vacillating stance of the PML-N on the creation of new provinces is hypocritical, to say the least. The reality is that the PML-N is not in favour of the division of Punjab province as it would erode its political clout and its main base of political support. But in view of a vociferous demand of the people of the area for the creation of a new province and a strong opinion in its favour at the national level, it does not have the courage to admit it publicly. The demand for creation of four provinces and the objections raised on the formation of the commission are clearly ploys to scuttle the entire exercise.

Since the mid-1980s, the PML-N has repeatedly ruled Punjab, interspersed by the dictatorial regimes and hence it is equally responsible for the sense of neglect and deprivation among the people of Southern Punjab and eventually, the demand for a separate province. The genuineness of the demand for a separate province in South Punjab is beyond any reproach in view of the ground realities. The architects of the constitution showed unparalleled vision by incorporating a provision in the constitution to deal with such eventualities. Trying to sabotage a genuine demand of the people of the area to safeguard narrow political interests of the party is unbecoming of a party that enjoys a national stature and claims to represent the interests of the entire country.

The PML-N undeniably is a major political force in Pakistan and the biggest party in the opposition. In democratic dispensations, the opposition is considered a government-in-waiting and has a complementary role in promoting and strengthening democracy and governance in the country. But a glance at the PML-N politics during the last four years presents a very dismal picture in regards to its credentials in promoting democracy and improving governance in the country. Except for a brief bonhomie with the PPP initially and cooperation with it on issues like constitutional amendments and the NFC Award (thanks to the policy of reconciliation by the PPP), it has mainly focused on bringing down the present regime. It has been dealing with national issues in the courts instead of parliament and creating conditions that could bring it into power, rather than presenting solid and workable plans to deal with the formidable challenges confronting the country, including the existentialist threat from terrorism. Its persistent antics to indulge in the politics of mud-slinging against the PPP leadership and of late a senseless duel with the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and the bizarre move to pick on the media, are in fact reflective of its bankruptcy in vision and the ability to conceive appropriate solutions to the national challenges and matters pertaining to governance. Mere claims to serve the masses and safeguarding their interests are not enough. The PML-N will have to curb its unremitting propensity to indulge in a blame-game against opposing political entities and focus more on substantive issues. The logjam on the creation of new provinces in South Punjab is now basically the responsibility of the PML-N as the move has been set rolling on the basis of the resolution of the Punjab Assembly. It should seek redress for its reservations by participating in the deliberations of the commission, rather than creating hurdles in the way of its working.

The writer is a retired diplomat, a freelance columnist and a member of the visiting faculty of the Riphah Institute of Media Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com