- PML-N moves NA for South Punjab, Bahawalpur provinces
In a realpolitik move obviously intended to drive the ruling party into an embarrassing political cul-de-sac, PML-N bigwigs submitted the Constitutional (Amendment) Act 2019 in the National Assembly on Monday, calling for two new provinces, South Punjab and Bahawalpur, to be carved from Punjab. The amendment movers sweetened the ‘poison pill’ (or ‘bill’ in this case) and its hazardous side-effects, by promising their unconditional support to otherwise despised arch-rivals PTI, if the latter adhered to its election promise of creating South Punjab province. This assurance had been lightly given by PTI to garner desperately needed support of local dissident PML-N electables in 2018 general elections, who were then rewarded with federal and provincial cabinet posts. With the present well-executed stroke, the PML-N has struck the Punjab separate provinces ball or rather ‘hot potato’ squarely into the PTI court, which the latter would no doubt eye askance and dubiously.
A classic instance of double-edged political ‘support’ is found in a Soviet politician’s polemical comment on turncoat socialist and then British prime minister Ramsey MacDonald, ‘We shall support Macdonald as the rope supports the hanged’. In the modern era of de-centralisation and devolution of powers, there is no doubt that formation of rump South Punjab province, which mostly comprises wretchedly backward and downtrodden regions, out of an administratively unwieldy Punjab, would prove a welcome civic and economic boon for its poverty-stricken inhabitants. But the PTI has to coldly balance this with a possible split and defections from its ranks over the emotive issue, and ultimate loss of power in Punjab where PML-N still holds considerable sway and seats. One Constitutional pre-requisite, that of concerned provinces’ acquiescence, was fulfilled way back in 2012, with a unanimous resolution passed in Punjab Assembly for creating these provinces, and the amendment now needs two-thirds majority both in NA and Senate, before being presented to the president of Pakistan for assent. But given the long barren history of strident slogans minus practical results, fingers should be kept crossed this time too. Again, financial stringency presents a major hurdle in realising this giant enterprise at the moment. But the chief culprits over past decades remain vested interests, and the absence of seriousness and political will.
