Federal Law Minister Babar Awan has said that Islamabad would be given the status of a province, seemingly pandering to the local lawyers. It also seems he is placing too much weight on the setting up of another high court at Islamabad, and said this while addressing a ceremony for the allotment of land for lawyers chambers in the new high court. It is surprising a lawyer of his standing should be so eager to say this, even though the constitutional position is that Islamabad constitutes the Federal Capital Territory. There are perhaps two factors driving Dr Awan. First is the example of India, whose capital, Delhi, has also become a province, with a government of its own. Then there is the example of Gilgit-Baltistan, which is another federally administered area which the present government has elevated to a quasi-provincial level. Dr Awan must appreciate that such elevations are subordinate to the Constitution in the sense that amendments to that status can be carried out by the federal government. The PPP should also keep in mind that the PML-N has won the Islamabad National Assembly seats in the recent past, and thus giving the Capital Territory provincial status might mean giving the PML-N another government. That raises another prospect, that of the Islamabad Assembly being under the control of a party other than that in control of the federal government. That would not be a prospect easily entertained. But most of all, Dr Awan should consider the expense. The new Islamabad government would come complete with not just a new assembly, but also its own governor, CM and Cabinet, police force and civil service, all of which would cost money. Where would it come from, especially now, at this time of stringency?