The recommendations made by the Parliamentary Commission for carving out a new province - Bahawalpur South Punjab - by merging Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur divisions is being dubbed by people here as another ‘political somersault’ by the PPP.
Almost all factions of the society, including Seraiki nationalists, workers of various political parties like PML-N and even common citizens, have strongly opposed the proposal.
Before being decided by the Commission, this idea was tossed first by Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood in presence of former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at a public meeting.
The demand for a separate province has been there in Seraiki region for long, but it was highlighted by Gilani while he was still in power. Apparently, the idea worked and PPP won public support in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur divisions.
In a bid to counter the PPP, the leaders of the PML-N came up with a new idea and supported the demand for restoration of Bahawalpur province.
The Punjab Assembly adopted two separate resolutions in May last, demanding restoration of Bahawalpur province and constitution of a Parliamentary Commission for South Punjab province.
Although the PPP went a step ahead to counter the PML-N in Bahawalpur division by announcing Bahawalpur South Punjab province, it is likely to lose more than it may expect to achieve.
If it succeeds in appeasing the residents of one (Bahawalpur) division, it is going to offend the residents of three (Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur) divisions. At a time when the residents of Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur divisions had started dreaming of a separate province because of President Asif Ali Zardari and Gilani’s repeated assurances, this new turn will indeed offend them.
The reactions expressed by the leaders of Seraiki parties, nationalists and common citizens clearly reflect the shape of things to come. Everybody seems to be against the Commission’s recommendations.
The chief of Pakistan Seraiki Party (PSP) Taj Muhammad Khan Langah threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement, stating his workers would offer arrests against the proposed province.
Accusing President Asif Ali Zardari of betraying Seraikis, Langah stressed upon the Parliamentarians from South Punjab region not to support this idea. Similarly, the President of Seraikistan Qaumi Movement Hameed Asghar Shaheen warned that the Seraikis were being pushed towards a Balochistan-like situation. He asked the Seraiki nationalists to stop pinning hopes on the Commission and do something themselves to get their rights.
The PML-N calls it an attempt of ‘political point scoring’ by the PPP, stating it will not let anyone rob the masses of their due rights.
PML-N Senator Malik Rafiq Rajwana says that PPP is staging a drama to fool the masses and win their vote. Similarly, MNAs Rana Mahmood ul Hassan and Sheikh Tariq Rasheed were of the opinion that a conspiracy is being hatched by the PPP to deprive Multan of its centuries-old status.
It is interesting to note that despite all out public opposition to the idea of Bahawalpur South Punjab Province, many of the PML-N leaders are in its favour. However, it is the party policy that restricts them from talking on-the-record in favour of this province. The recent development is likely to open a new Pandora’s box.
There has been a violent movement for Hazara province in the near past. Political analysts are of the opinion that if the proposed province is set up, there are strong chances that demands for new provinces would also from many other areas of the country.
Meanwhile, make-and-break politics is also picking up in South Punjab region. A sitting MNA of PML-N, Sardar Saifuddin Khosa, who is son of Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, senior Adviser to the Chief Minister Punjab, has switched his loyalties to PPP.
The PPP circles consider it a big success, although Saifuddin Khosa quit his party because of a dispute with his father.
Prime Minister’s Media Coordinator Kh. Rizwan Alam claims that many other bigwigs of South Punjab are going to join the PPP very soon.
The people aware of local politics, however, are of the opinion that Saifuddin Khosa’s switch over will not make any difference to the party position in Dera Ghazi Khan division as his politics has always been dependent on his father.
On the other side, many mainstream leaders and Parliamentarians from other political parties are in contact with the PML-N in South Punjab.
The government is likely to table the bill for Bahawalpur South Punjab province in the National Assembly within next week. Although advocates of new provinces have to go a long way before translating their dream into reality, Jamshed Dasti, a member of Parliamentary Commission on new provinces and PPP MNA, claims that the new province can become functional provided all political parties develop a consensus.
Whether or not the proposed province emerges on the map, it has set a perfect platform for all the political parties–especially the PML-N and PPP to run their election campaign in South Punjab.