New federating units: Hashmi wants Punjab divided into four provinces
In what appears to be a partial endorsement of his party’s new stance, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader Javed Hashmi said that he supported the creation of new provinces on the basis of administrative need, not ethnic cohesion, a position that was also taken by the pro-PML-N breakaway faction of the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid.
Hashmi said that he supported the division of Punjab – the country’s most populous province – into four separate federating units, and explicitly said that he did not support the idea of creating a province on the basis of ethnicity, not even a Seraiki province.
“Since Seraiki is spoken in all four provinces in Pakistan, it would be a mockery of the process to create another province of 100 million people,” said Hashmi.
That this was stated by one of the most prominent Seraiki politicians in Multan, the largest city in the Seraiki belt, is a significant development. Hashmi has on previous occasions supported the creation of new provinces in order to improve governance quality and administrative efficiency and had implied support for a Seraiki province.
Hashmi had been sidelined by the PML-N leadership for taking a stance that had, at the time, been against the party’s policy. However, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif appears to have been modifying his stance over the past week and is expected to announce support for new provinces on Monday, provided they are not based on ethnicity.
“I still stand by my opinion that Punjab should be divided, on an administrative basis, into four provinces and the rest of Pakistan should be divided into eight provinces,” said Hashmi.
While Hashmi has widely been seen as estranged from his party’s leadership, he lashed out against their primary rivals – the Pakistan Peoples Party – on Saturday in a speech that suggested a rapprochement, or at least an attempt to do so on Hashmi’s part.
“New provinces can only be created by the PML-N because only our party cares enough about the common man,” he said. “The PPP is just supporting new provinces to play politics.”
Meanwhile, the pro-PML-N breakaway faction of the PML-Q – which claims to have six senators and six members of the National Assembly – also supported the notion of new provinces in the country, provided they are not based on ethnic or linguistic divisions.
PML-Q Likeminded faction leader Salim Saifullah Khan – who is also the Senate foreign affairs committee chairman – said that the “formation of provinces on administrative grounds would negate provincialism, promote nationalism, harmony and the country would be on the path of development.”
While the breakaway faction is not very large at the national level, it claims to enjoy significant support in the Punjab Assembly and at one point included a majority of the PML-Q members of the provincial legislators.
The main PML-Q, for its part, has been supporting the creation of a Seraiki province out of southern Punjab and a Hazara province out of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The ruling PPP, meanwhile, appears to be defending its decision to create a new province only in Punjab. Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said that since Punjab is the single biggest province, it is the only one that needs to be divided. She also claimed that the PML-N was bowing to public pressure for the creation of new provinces. “If the PML-N scraps the people’s demand to create new provinces, the people will scrap the PML-N,” she said in an interview with Express 24/7.
(With additional reporting by Irfan Ghauri in Islamabad)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2011.
COMMENTS (38)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732503274-0/Untitled-design-(43)1732503274-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732501636-0/Untitled-design-(42)1732501636-0-165x106.webp "article")
It is not a bad idea to make nine provinces like states and let them manage security and finances their selves. This can easily boost some spirit of competition over the other to gain progress and utilization of resources what is best in their interest and eliminate revulsions. Defense, treasury, communication, foreign affairs and justice system can be controlled by the feds. Local security (state or provincial police & courts) and agriculture can be managed by the provincial governments and can be held responsible to federal government in case of unlawful negligence. Federal Government will have defense (military and intelligence agencies), federal justice system, treasury, foreign affairs and natural resources. To run federal government, taxes can be levied on all incomes plus provinces can levy their own taxes and earn royalties from federal government to run their own province. Federal government can help on all disasters in any field of life if necessary otherwise the provinces should manage it. In summary there should be complete independence in utilization of resources by these nine provinces and that system has successfully worked in Pakistan before and after Indian partition in the semi autonomous states like, Swat, Kalabagh, Bahawalpur etc. Military should work under federal government within the framework of parliament and constitution to provide defense and the same with the treasury and justice system. All justices and high ranking officials make way through the parliament’s approval with head of government keeping veto and recomendation power but not appointment power. Provinces initially can be three in Punjab and two each for the rest. This can control terrorism, treasons and exploitations and create a bond to progress within themselves by themselves.
@ Anuj Sometimes things get unmanageable with time. So if Pakistanis are thinking of more than 4 provinces then do you have a problem?
Division of big province into smaller ones for better administration is no wrong.This will speedily improve peace and prosperity in the country which in turn will yield sustainable development.
Dividing Pakistan on ethnic basis will just lead to further disintegration of the country.
Federation needs equal units to control the country and equal powers in legislation.
@ Frank
I am from Bahawalpur, and I know what the people of Bahawalpur want. I don't know where do you get your stupid information from? Only Muhammad Ali Durrani from South is favoring BWP Province. Out of 15 BWP NA seats, 10 are kept with PPP. Listen to our representatives, not Durrani who is not our representative.
There is only one ethnicity in Punjab Do not make this kind of rubbish statements which will only expedite the creation of Seraiki Province.
If the Sariki population does not want to be ruled by a faraway place called Lahore throne, then it is their choice. Local people ruled by local govt is going to cut down the expenses not increase them. Why are non Sariki people against this? Let there be referendum in the area (just like we demand in Kashmir) and whatever people decide is fine. The Sariki belt is peaceful and people there are united for their own province. How can PML-N lose its votes by the emergence of Sariki province? Their Sariki branch and members would still be able to vote for their party. India has increased the number of their provinces by almost three folds without any problem. It is this local empowerment and democracy that is keeping the India intact. Talking Sariki province does not mean it is breaking away from Pakistan it is a sad diversion and false.
Why not just make 50 states out of small Pakistan.
No need for division just because all these leaders are incompetent - they think this is the solution. LG system was working well during Musharraf's reign; first tell the nation why that was that abolished? Yes, to increase your vote bank and have your puppets serve you. Bring back the LG system!! I can't recall seeing as much progress in Karachi and Lahore as I saw under the LG system (apologies for not mentioning other cities as I only saw the changes in these cities with my own eyes). Since the LG system was abolished - I have seen a rapid deterioration in the administration of these cities and lack of infrastructural progress.
I wish Pakistanis could choose leaders based on their patriotism and sincerity to the country. It's so unfortunate that we keep on electing the same incompetent lot - atleast ~80% of the elected lot fall in this bracket. And i don't even regard them as politicians. They are just bunch of landlords who are deceiving their people and getting away every time with treason. I just pray with tear in my eyes that a talented and resource rich country like ours gets a real leadership which believes in progress and in serving the great people of our country. We deserve better. The poor people of Pakistan deserve better! Then I ask why? why do we vote for these people time and time again. Lets vote for change and vote for people who we know will be sincere in serving Pakistan. The educated people of Pakistan need to guide the underprivileged and illiterate - they need awareness - and the young people need to cast their votes for a better Pakistan, a Pakistan based on excellence, a Pakistan other countries can follow as an example. Vote for Pakistan in the next general elections!
" It is being done only to get power in Punjab if punjab is to be devided why not karachi should be seperated from Sind. My recommendation is that all the present provinces should be devided at one time and at one stroke.
More government costs money. Who is going to pay all of this extra government?
We don't pay taxes. More government won't produce more tax payers.
It's unlikely that these new units will have fiscal powers.
It may just be a scheme for the disenfranchised politicians to have a share the booty and their own fiefdoms. Currently they are shut out from the Lahore/Pindi/Peshawar/Karachi politicians club.
I don't see any demand on the streets or amongst the public for this. It seems to be an idea manufactured by politicians for politicians.
The growth of population should be checked with extensive use of contaceptives, not by dividing Pakistan into fragments. Solution is very simple. Teach, train and empower common person. Give them all resources at grass root level. New provinces, like old ones will also become power base of young Gillanis, Qureshis, Hashmis, Khars and Nawabs because they have also grown in huge numbers like common people. These provinces or administrative units are their voices for their off springs, masses are doing only lip singing.
He is should now retire. He has started talking meaningless things.
@muhammad sharay: The idea is to give Mr. Nawaz Shareef to rule over the smallest area in Pakistan. But jokes apart I see nothing wrong in having more provinces. It will help more people get more prosperity. But the province should give first total law and order, peace and prosperity in that order.
There is a better solution then dividing. Its called people's power. Wake up citizens of Pakistan. If you really want to be democratic, bring in the Army under the control of the Govt and not the other way round. This way NO party can play the Army card. In the long run, not ony will the people of Pakaistan help themselves, but also the whole world will help.
@ Mr.Siddiqui , with due respect I would rather disagree to your notion of "appealing " to tribune readers or Pakistanis to let us have a separate administrative unit of Karachi .
For reasons obvious they would agree on Khairpur province or Changa Managa Province BUT not on Karachi province ."appeal " ???? I am afraid it has to be the other way round .
@ Hassan Farooqui , Karachi province means a province for all Karachiites that includes Sindhis as well .What you are referring to , rhymes neatly with " Balkanization" . If that happens ,demand for a separte province will bear no meaning and the outcome will go as far fetched as close to soemthing as Baluchistan is facing .
agree with muhammad ali siddiqui
There is no need to get any support from Mr. Nawaz Sharif and Co. This is public demand to carve Punjab if not in four provinces but at least into three. Even Baluchistan and KP should be carved into three provinces. This is good for our country.
Creation of new provinces does not mean disintegration of Pakistan.
The population is growth with a speed like rocket is going into the space. The Mullahs also do not want any control of population in Pakistan.
I think to have more administrative control over the issues Pakistan should have as many provinces as it can.
We have already lost one wing of Pakistan in 1971. The former East Pakistan is now called Bangladesh. The America also has more than 50 provinces and it is called ‘United States of America’.
If Pakistan will have more provinces, there is no harm in calling collectively all the provinces as ‘United States of Pakistan’.
Would readers of Express Tribune like to endorse my views?
in KPK the ethnic group that is saraiki belt is very prosperous. so no need to make a separate pronicve out of that. but in punjab saraiki belt, the ethnicity is keept very poor. All the funds go to the punjabi speaking area of punjab and hence the name. so it should be divided on ethnic lines.
PMLN leadership has a lot to learn from Mr. Hashmi. Agree with him.
I fully agree with Mr. Hashmi. Punjab is far too big, at 120 million people, to be governed as one province. It just can't be done. People who oppose the partition of Punjab are living in an idealistic world. We have to care about our citizen's welfare, not about what they want to call the province they have their main residence in! Regards, Rehan
64 years post-independence...pakistan still trying to learn how to administer handful of states....
Why divide only Punjab.........why?
Why not Sindh, Khaibar PakhtoonKhawah, Balochistan....as far as I know Punjab is the better of them all in administration....So divide 4 in 16....
He has lost his marbles...
He should focus to devolving power rather than breaking the federating units, which will inevitably be along racial lines.
We need Karachi+Hyderabad = Urdustan Province as well. Need of hour and its all administrative basis. These two cities deserve to be governed by literate people on the wishes of people of these two cities. Pakistan will only prosper with more provinces made. Anyone knows how many provinces India had at the time of partition and how many they have now?
Punjab should be divided into new provinces but it should also be applied on other provinces for example hazara should be a separate part then sindh can also be divided and so on
More provinces and true devolution of power is needed.
And Pakistan into 4 Countries.
the demands of the people of hazara region and the pashtuns in balochistan and the urdu speakers should also be fulfilled at the same time as the demands of the saraikis are being met.why only the deliberate campaign to divide one province??
why is ony one province that is punjab being targetted? why not divisions in the other 3 provinces also? all the 4 provinces should be divided to form new provinces.ganging up against one province reeks of ethnic hate and deliberate persecution of one specific province.This racist hatred against punjab should stop.
Balkinization is the first step of separation. Pakistan ka Khuda Hafiz!
Why not have a local government system first instead of starting this new province debate?
Listen to the voice of the people, Mr, Hashmi. Bahawalpur does not want to be in any province with Multan. And there is only one ethnicity in Punjab.