ROAD TO SELF RESTRUCTION

Pakistan Views Online

There seems to be no end to unpleasant surprises. This is an excerpt from an article in The News today by Mr. Asif Ezdi:




"---------- the question of repealing the 17th Amendment, on which there is a broad agreement, has become inter-linked with the issues of wider provincial autonomy and the renaming of NWFP, on which a difference of opinion persists.




"The deliberations of this committee, which are held behind closed doors, have been marked by total opaqueness. ---------- Such information about proceedings in the committee, as has trickled out, hardly inspires confidence.




"It has been reported that in a major breakthrough, the committee agreed on November 6 to recommend the abolition of the concurrent list. According to one newspaper, there was also an agreement to transfer to the provinces all subjects on the federal list, except foreign affairs, finance, defence, currency and communications. ------- the result would be the dismantling of the federal government."




Even a cursory glance at history of the sub-continent will reveal that devolution of this kind will result in breaking up of the country in a very short space of time. It has always happened in the past when the centre was weakened. That is why Nehru and Patel opted for a unitary form of government for India.




There is no proof that greater autonomy will improve the lot of the people in any of the provinces or satisfy the politicians for long. Their main complaints are in fact in areas that lie under provincial jurisdiction already like law and order, education, agriculture, transport, health, etc.




The reason they don't function properly has little to do with the centre or the Constitution. It is due directly to inability on the part of the provinces to provide effective management and proper administration. Extending autonomy still further will only mean adding further burden to the already inadequate provincial management resources and more misery for the people, not less.




It is also a misconception that greater autonomy will mean less bickering. You don't need much excuse to pick a quarrel to divert the attention and angst of the people. The blame for any failure is bound to be externalized as in the past. A weakened centre will find it that much more difficult to remedy any new situation.




The call for greater autonomy, at least within the country, is motivated by ethnic considerations. It is a veritable minefield. Take Baluchistan for instance; it is not only the Baluchis who live there. What will be the future of minorities like the Pakhtoons who inhabit the northern half of the province? Will they accept increased Baluch domination? The Baluchis themselves are riven with tribal divisions. Who will keep the peace between them if the centre's role is diminished? It will be much the same in Sind.




What was done by Musharraf in FATA and Baluchistan is unpardonable but we cannot atone for it by giving in to people who took up arms against their own country. They did so knowingly and worse still joined hands with the country's enemies. It cannot be condoned. These elements are no longer free nor are they acceptable as partners in any negotiations. It will set a terrible precedence.




The media in Pakistan has played a highly dubious role in presenting only one side of the issue by exclusively patronizing the likes of Selig Harrison. Any contrary point of view was scrupulously excluded. It may be difficult to assign any motives; suffice it to say that it is not the only time it has happened. It is most worrisome and reprehensible.




Constitution of the country is a sacred document. It is not to be taken lightly simply because some tinpot dictators made it their plaything in the past. It is there to provide the basis for running the country and cannot be amended at the whim and fancy of some individuals who lack the vision and experience to deal with problems that are basically of an administrative nature. If the nation can be likened to a tree, it is like digging at its roots and that will kill it.