Creation of South Punjab Province

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has renewed the debate on creation of South Punjab province. Addressing a press conference today (Saturday), FM Qureshi has reiterated that the PTI-led government is serious for creation of South Punjab.

He also urged the lawmakers of Pakistan Peoples’ Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz toadi government in establishing the province.

Keeping in view that earlier on Wednesday (11 March 2020), FM Qureshi asserted that a bill will be presented in National Assembly in order to turn south Punjab region into province.

He also said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken the decision to move forward with process of creation of south Punjab province.

Let’s take an in-depth review of the movement behind creation of south Punjab province.

How it all started?

Demand for a south Punjab province has a rich history. The movement links with two political trends in the respected region in 1970 – a Bahawalpur-based movement centred on the demand for restoring the geographical and administrative boundaries of Bahawalpur state – and a Multan-centred linguistic-nationalist movement for the creation of a province comprising those districts of Punjab where Seraiki language is spoken.

In 2013, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) passed a constitutional amendment bill in Senate for creating a new province in Punjab. The bill, however, couldn’t be passed because PML-N didn’t endorse it. Bur the process continued. PPP pressurized PML-N to pass a resolution in Punjab Assembly for creation of two new provinces – Bahawalpur and South Punjab. When PML-N came into power in 2013, Nawaz League didn’t take a single step in this regard.

It has a long history, however, the latest spurt for the new province came in April 2018, when a new political entity – Janoobi Punjab Suba Mahaz – came in front, which includes the disgruntled members of PML-N such as Khusro Bakhtiar, Malik Qasim Noon and many others.

After few weeks, the new political entity joined hands with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). In this regard, PTI incorporated creation of new province in their 2018 manifesto and promised to establish new province within 100 days after coming to power.

PTI government and South Punjab

After winning the general elections in 2018, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf despite their promise to create new province, ignored this issue for straight eight months.

For this attitude, the incumbent federal government faced severe criticism through press statements, social media and protests from the respected parties that demanded the creation.

PTI government possessed power in South Punjab as majority of the seats were won from the respected region.

Then in January 2019, PML-N presented a bill in National Assembly, whereas, PPP tabled a bill in Senate in regard to new provinces. This step forced the incumbent government to pass its bill in lower house of parliament and then on May 13, 2019, PTI presented a bill in NA.

Geographical areas to form new province is different of all three political parties but all of these parties clearly seem to have agreed at least on division of Punjab.

Challenges for South Punjab Province

The biggest challenge in creation of South Punjab province could not be possible for any party without two-thirds majority in Senate, national and provincial assemblies. It isn’t an easy task to create a new province.

Another challenge is that the secretariat will be established in the ongoing fiscal year. However, it is yet to decide in which city Multan, Bahawalpur or another city will be established.

Some of them, however, suggested that instead of one, the government should create three mini secretariats – one each at Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi.

Questions have also been raised about the powers of the mini secretariat announced for southern Punjab.

What’s next?

Punjab is by far the most populous and economically influential province of the country. Although removing southern parts would still leave the remaining province in an advantageous position in terms of population and economic clout.

The shifting of power bases would mean that central and northern Punjabi politicians would still lose a lot of their influence.

If the new province is created, the PTI is bound to lose its existing majority in Punjab. Will the PTI ever be ready to sacrifice its government in Punjab? Now the time will decide what will happen in regard to creating new province.