The DAWN
By Our Staff Reporter
15 March 2002Friday

KARACHI, March 14: Provincial autonomy is a guarantee to survival of the country, as without it there couldn't be a true and strong democracy, nor there could be stability in the country.

This was the consensus of speakers at a seminar on "provincial autonomy", organized by the coordination committee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, at a local hotel on Thursday.

The speakers included former caretaker prime minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Prof N.D. Khan (PPP), Nafees Siddiqui (CDD), Qamoos Gul Khattak (ANP), Amir Bux Bhutto (SNF), Naheed Afzal (Tehreek-i-Istiqlal), Dr Farooq Sattar of the MQM, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah (Ponam), former Sindh chief secretary Syed Sardar Ahmad, Yusuf Haroon and M.B. Naqvi.

Welcoming the guests, the deputy convener of the MQM coordination committee Aftab Shaikh, highlighted the subject and recalled a brief history of autonomy from 1935 Acts to 1973 Constitution.

He said he had studied the three volumes of the Debate on the Constitution, and there was no commitment from the government side that the Constitution would be reviewed after eight years as claimed by the leaders of UDF - the opposition alliance of eight parties.

Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi termed the 1956 Constitution a black chapter in which the majority province of the federation, former East Pakistan with 56 per cent population, was reduced to a minority which paved the way for the separation of the eastern wing.

He held the proponents of strong centre responsible for the present state of affairs and said Pakistan was a federation where situation could not improve without removing injustices. "Internal stability could only be ensured through fair treatment to all the four federating units. He warned the rulers against opening the Pandora's box of autonomy by amending the 1973 Constitution.

Nafees Siddiqui warned the rulers against amending the 1973 Constitution as this was the sole prerogative of the parliament. Saying that the ground realities had now changed and the quantum of provincial autonomy in 1973 Constitution was insufficient so there was a need for a new social contract.

Qamoos Gul Khattak said a strong centre and strong Pakistan were two different matters as strong centre. Pakistan could only be strong, if its federating units were strong. He said those who plead for a strong centre had, in fact, been weakening the foundations of the country.

The ANP leader said talking about provincial autonomy without making the Senate authoritative was meaningless. Amir Bux Bhutto said in a multinational federation, like Pakistan, pre-requisites for internal security are democracy, economic stability and law and order which infuse trust and harmony among the people.

He termed the 1940 resolution a "founding document" and basis of a social contract for independence in which provinces are assured autonomy and sovereign status within Pakistan.

He said in view of the developments taking place in the country, it appeared as if the rulers had not learnt a lesson from the history and had once again been following the same path which had earlier led to the break-up of the country.

Mr Bhutto termed talk of devolution a conspiracy against the demand of provincial autonomy as districts were being brought direct under the federal rule where for recovery of taxes federal guards would be deployed to run the system. He said there was no harm to frame new a Constitution as the 1973 Constitution did not comprehend the present-day ground realities.

Dr Farooq Sattar stressed the need for bringing in a reformation in the country and said that we should realise our mistakes in the past. If Pakistan had to be saved today, there was a need to pledge to frame a new Pakistan. "We have to take a decision whether to frame a new Constitution after the debacle of another Dhaka or to frame it immediately to avoid another tragedy of Dhaka.

Syed Sardar Ahmad highlighted the subject from academic and historical perspective and said provincial autonomy was the only guarantee for the survival of the country. He proposed to bring all cantonments within the purview of local government.

RESOLUTIONS: Presenting the resolutions, which were unanimously adopted by the participants of the seminar, MQM leader Nasreen Jalil said the seminar unanimously was of the view that full provincial autonomy could only ensure internal stability.

She said the seminar expressed its grave concern over water shortage in Sindh and demanded that all controversial projects in Sindh be disbanded forthwith and till a new formula was evolved with consensus for distribution of water, 1991 Water Accord be strictly followed.

The seminar also condemned the arrest of those holding protests for water scarcity in Sindh and demand that all those arrested be freed immediately. Prof N.D. Khan said the issue of provincial autonomy be decided with in the parliament with consensus.

Syed Jalal Mehmoud Shah said that without provincial autonomy the issues being faced could not be resolved. He said that provinces should be given financial, judicial and administrative autonomy and the centre should stop interference in the affairs of the provinces.