Dividing Punjab may harm Pakistan

Some leaders have violently announced that new provinces be created by breaking the existing provinces. Yousaf Raza Gilani is firm that the Southern Punjab province would be created before the elections. Irony is that the “Constitution of Pakistan” is being violated. The LHC has also observed that the current parliament has no mandate to do so.  The very first article of the Constitution reads that there will be only four provinces i.e.  Balochistan, NWFP, Punjab and Sindh. Now, the rulers are after the most important province. There is yet another voice that erstwhile Bahawalpur State be converted into another new province. 

The greatness of the Punjab has been illustrated by one Robert D. Kaplan who has however characterized about the perversity of Pakistan at the present moment. According to him, Pakistan is a military state which for decades invested in the conflicts with India but now is civilian elite who pays almost no taxes; it produces much lesser electricity for use; has non existing education system but has an overbearing military presence. He says that there was much history and geography behind the drive of Jinnah to create a separate Muslim state anchored in the subcontinent, though it is now in trouble and is at stake. The process of Muslim conquests began in Sindh, in the desert tracks, Iran and Afghanistan and also in the vicinity of Middle East. All the kings and raiders came through after touching the slopes of Afghan hills before reaching the five rivers of Punjab. They often settled down in the Indus Valley or around Delhi where culture grew and progressed. Before partition of 1947, two big provinces of combined India were divided into two pieces – the Punjab (between Muslims and Hindus) and the Bengal (between Muslims and Hindu in the East). It is pity that Punjab is again being broken not in further twos but in many pieces.  The soldiers from Punjab are the best fighters. They displayed their worth in the World Wars, too.  Most of the Victoria Crosses and the only one George Cross went to Punjabi Muslims. Nishan-i-Haider in Pak-India wars awarded mostly to Punjabi soldiers.  Punjab has about 80% of Pakistan Army and more than half of federal bureaucracy, as per the “Foreign Policy – July–August 2012”.  It says that Punjab is like an internal power ruling Pakistan in the way that Serbia and Serbian army ran Yugoslavia in its prime rule, prior to that country’s civil war.

Another well – known Muslim historian has written, “If the motherland of five rivers had not been obtained, then it would have been impossible to establish Pakistan”.  Punjab is crucial for existence of Pakistan. Breaking it into pieces is the Indian strategy, which might culminate in breaking Pakistan.  

 

Brig ® A. Q Anjum