If only we could follow the vision of Jinnah, our current crises wouldn’t be of the magnitude that they are.
This is with reference to Saleem H Ali’s article of March 21 titled “Pakistan’s identity war — II”. If only we could follow the vision of our founding father Jinnah, our current crises wouldn’t be of the magnitude that they are. Pakistan is a federation of provinces controlled by an overtly strong centre and so, clearly, what is needed is that the provinces are given their due share.
This can start by giving them more autonomy and letting the people at the local or provincial level decide what they want to do, but after having the requisite information to make an informed decision. Creation of new provinces must precede provincial autonomy because that will eliminate any disproportionate weight that one province might have over the others.
Arif Qadri
Dubai
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2011.
