New provinces

It is integral that an important decision is made through parliament, by taking all on board, especially opposition.

Carving out more provinces in Pakistan is not a new demand. The PPP-led government has been rallying for the formation of a new province in southern Punjab for Seraiki speakers. President Asif Ali Zardari had directed that a commission be formed in light of the resolutions passed in the National and provincial assemblies on the issue. As far as administrative purposes and the wishes of the local people are concerned, more provinces can be considered, but the way to do that is to have a national consensus and take everyone on board. Regrettably, the PPP-led government is moving ahead with the newly-convened commission on new provinces in a manner that seems to suggest it is bulldozing the issue, perhaps with the next election in mind.

In the case of Punjab, the PML-N is not just important by virtue of being the country’s second largest mainstream party but because it also runs the province’s government. Thus it was disconcerting to see the centre’s dismissive attitude vis-à-vis the PML-N, with one federal minister indicating that the process would continue “even if the PML-N does not participate in the process and if the Punjab Assembly does not nominate its members (for the newly-convened commission)”. Another federal minister has said that the commission was formed in light of the Punjab Assembly’s own resolution on the matter. However, it can have little value if the PML-N does not nominate members to it because any decision made by it will not have wide backing, something that is essential for a matter as sensitive as forming a new province.

It is worth mentioning that the PPP seems to be banking on gaining votes in southern Punjab, and to perhaps undercut even the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf , by strongly backing a new province there. That said, it is also fair to say that any other party would have done the same, prior to an election year, but that doesn’t justify the approach. If the government approaches the PML-N again and takes their reservations into consideration, the PML-N may end its boycott. In a democracy, it is integral that an important decision like making new provinces is made through parliament and by taking all sides on board, especially the opposition.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2012.