New province or new provinces
What they say about democracy being the best form of government is true, but so is the transient nature of politics; it changes with circumstances. For almost five years, the issue of new provinces in the country has been allowed to simmer, but only now has it been allowed to become a raging fire, courtesy of our politicians left, right and centre. How easy it is for the politicians to turn a simple administrative issue into a political drama, hatching up all sorts of political machinations along the way, can be seen in the recent decision of the Parliamentary Commission on Creation of New Provinces. Instead of working within the ambit of its terms of reference and mandate, it has recommended something that stands in contradiction to what the people of the proposed provinces, provincial government and the federal government had asked it to deliberate on and recommend.
Instead of looking into the viability of two new provinces, Bahawalpur and Seraiki province, the 12-member commission has recommended that they both be merged and named Bahawalpur-South Punjab province, along with all the usual administrative and infrastructural setup. The recommendations have drawn the ire of almost every political party, including the ones representing the people of these areas. One wonders how the commission came up with a solution which the government did not want, the opposition scoffs at and the people of the proposed provinces never wanted in the first place. The problem lies with the politicians and their vested interests that forced them to play political games to score points against each other, even if it hurts the state and its populace.
The idea of smaller administrative units in a state is not a new one. It is as old as the idea of democracy, for democracy is considered to be the best form of governance not because it offers equality, justice or numerous other qualities associated with it, but because it puts power into the hands of the ruled to elect those who they want to rule over them, and of course solve their problems. In other words, democracy is self governance. Wherever this right is denied or encroached upon, democracy stumbles and political growth falters. That is exactly what is happening with the issue of new provinces in the country.
The PPP wants to create new provinces before the elections, the N League wants the same; but where they differ is in how to approach the issue and how to see it through without hurting one’s interests. The PPP, though, seems to be holding the upper hand as it has pitched the PML-N in a dilemma where, on the one hand, it loses its credibility and a good part of its vote bank if it reneges from its public support of new provinces. On the other hand, if it gives in, it could possibly face moral and principle defeat and look like a weaker party while the PPP gloats over its success. In either case, the issue is going to affect both parties in the upcoming elections. That, though, should not be a hurdle in resolving the issue as with the issue lingering on; it’s the federation and the people that would make up the losing side, not any one particular party. Bury the hatchet, so to speak.
