Air of uncertainty
The ruling party is famous for its lukewarm attitude towards major political issues. And the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is no exception. Because of its handling of the project, PML-N is risking turning this ‘game changer’ into another national controversy.
The gravity of the situation can be gauged by the recent statement of Chinese embassy in which it urged the political parties of Pakistan to sit together in order to resolve the growing controversy over CPEC amicably. The Chinese embassy said that the Corridor is in the best interests of the people of both the countries and unnecessary controversy over the project may jeopardise this venture.
It is unfortunate that a project which brings a potential economic windfall to the country is being marred by internal political dissension even before it has started. The smaller provinces have expressed reservations over the allegedly changed route of CPEC and said that they are not being awarded their due share in this project. In order to support their arguments, the other provinces have said that only the chief minister of Punjab knows all the details of the project and the centre is not sharing any information with other federating units of the country. An All Parties Conference (APC) was called by the prime minister last year on May 28, 2015 and it was agreed to construct the western route first. Today, all the parties have shown their concerns and even the political allies of the government have warned it of grave consequences over the change of the route. APCs have been organised in the federal capital to highlight the changes in the routes and demanding transparency in the project. Only under intense pressure did the government promise to go back to the western route first.
It is unfortunate that a project which brings a potential economic windfall to the country is being marred by internal political dissension even before it has started
A Baloch nationalist leader Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal of Balochistan National Party (BNP) organised a Multi Party Conference just few days back in Islamabad, in which more than twenty political, religious and nationalist parties participated. The speakers hailing from different parties criticised the clandestine attitude of the government and accused it of stealing the actual facts.
“The government would be unable to call the Balochs to Islamabad if our reservations over CPEC and Gwadar are not removed”, warned by Akhtar Mengal, whose government in the province was removed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the 90s. Two federal ministers also attended the conference and tried to appease the participants but both were unsuccessful.
The provincial amir of Jamaat-e-Islami from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, told DNA that 84 percent of CPEC is being invested in Punjab while KPK is getting only 1.4 percent. He said the western route is more beneficial for both the China and Pakistan because of its low cost and the people of smaller provinces would also get better employment opportunities by its construction. “The Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal met our ministers during his visit of KPK and the meeting ended on a bitter note as he could not address our concerns”, said Khan.
He went on to say that the prime minister must honour his promise of constructing the western route first. He said his party is not against this project but the government’s attitude has forced the party to express reservations.
Senator Shahi Sayed of Awami National Party (ANP) told DNA that we are part of Pakistan and it is our right to demand our share from the state. He said that there are tens of thousands of opportunities of cheap electricity in KPK as the region is abundant with the natural resources.
“The government is inaugurating the projects sanctioned in previous regimes and trying to claim them as part of CPEC”, he added. “It seems like Punjab is the whole country as the lion’s share is being awarded to it. It is my right to protest when someone dares to snatch my bite”.
‘CPEC must not become another Kalabagh Dam due to the growing controversy over it as this would be detrimental for the national interest of this country’
According to Sayed, there are no two opinions regarding the importance of CPEC but the government must defuse the air of uncertainty over its route and ensure the share of smaller province.
Mr Ahmad Nazir Warraich, who has worked on the ethno-national politics of Pakistan and teaches the subject at Civil Services Academy Lahore, told DNA that CPEC is an economic project for the uplift of the economy of both the countries but not to develop the underprivileged parts of Pakistan. He was of the view that everyone tries to invest in safer places and so is the case with the CPEC.
“Unfortunately, it seems as if PTI, judging by Pervez Khattak’s statements, is fast becoming an ethnic political party, rather than being a national party, representing the interests of all four provinces and the country at large”, he deplored. According to him, it would be unfortunate if CPEC is shelved due to Khattak’s defiant behaviour.
“CPEC must not become another Kalabagh Dam due to the growing controversy over it as this would be detrimental for the national interest of this country”, he concluded.
CPEC is the biggest investment of a country in another country and the prime minister must intervene to resolve the reservations of other provinces.
