Provincial autonomy and concurrent lists

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
6

Re: Provincial autonomy and concurrent lists

Dear Amorphous,

Let me address your points one by one.

  1. I have no personal feelings of animosity towards Pakistan and its ideology. I do have a disdain for out undemocratic rulers, whether from the army or the political parties. You can not even begin to understand how much my family or I have given for Pakistan.
  2. This Urdu speaking general is part of the same autocracy as most of our other rulers and it would not matter if he was Kashmiri speaking or Balochi speaking to me.
  3. The parliamentary committee on Balochistan, I was told, was set to look at provincial autonomy and other ways of solving grievances, but that process has yet to result in any real change. Others can fill you in with more detail I’m sure.
  4. Karachi and as a result Sindh is highest revenue producing area in Pakistan, yet the center spends most of that revenue in northern Punjab and parts of NWFP, the traditional army belt. As a result poverty levels in Sindh are much higher than Punjab. The same can be said for Balochistan. For a short history lesson on the injustice to Sindh through forced imposition of the NFC award, read this article. http://www.dawn.com/2006/01/20/top4.htm
  5. For the water agreement that has constantly been disregarded by Punjab, you should look at some news reports from Dawn on IRSA and reasons as to why the 1991 water accord is not followed. Not as expert in this field, but relying on what I’ve heard from others. http://www.dawn.com/2004/09/18/top9.htm http://www.dawn.com/2001/11/15/top2.htm
  6. Sindhis are as much disappointed by their own leaders, like the Bhuttos who go back on their promises when in power, than with the non Sindhi leaders. Trust me I am no fan of the Bhtuto clan.
  7. I am against all violence. However, in case you have not noticed there is a full fledged insurgency in progress in Balochistan. Musharraf, who tells the West that terrorism cannot be defeated through force, is trying to do the same in Balochistan. It will not work, unless his goal is to kill all Balochis. The government by not listening is forcing people with no other option to pick up the gun.

The bottom line is that during the past 58 years, the center has almsot always sided with Punjab on important issues, and people outside of Punjab are not stupid. The can see a scam and that is exactly what the governance of Pakistan has become.

Today’s news on NFC

http://www.dawn.com/2006/01/30/top7.htm

Sindh to lose Rs51bn in 5 years under new NFC

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Sindh is estimated to lose Rs10 billion in its share from the federal divisible pool in the first year of the amended National Finance Commission Award and Rs41 billion on account of general sales tax over the next five years.

*yawn*