Refining the Devolution Plan
Yugoslavia is a classic example in modern times why we should be very careful when dealing with diverse races within one boundary. While Marshal Tito was alive he kept Yugoslavia going on the strength of his personality and the use of police-state methods. Do we have a Marshal Tito in Pervaiz Musharraf, in fact does Pervaiz Musharraf want to be a Marshal Tito? In democracies neither cult nor authoritarian measures work. The disintegration of Yugoslavia only confirms that devolution of power could probably end up in a fatal miscalculation. Equate Punjab to Serbia in the present feeling of the Provinces towards the Punjab and Yugoslavia becomes a mirror image of our problems except that in Yugoslavia there was also a religious divide and in Pakistan we have a very hostile neighbour. Given that the resemblance of Yugoslavia is uncanny, how can we bring the much needed devolution of power into the body politics of Pakistan?
In the absence of making more Provinces, the only course for us is to have Divisional Governments which will be both economic only and politically feasible entities, almost all the Divisions are capable of generating enough revenues for self-sustenance. Whether we are in an urban or rural area, we are very much a tribal society, divided on ethnic and sectarian lines, a concentrated and united minority could well exercise absolute rule over a fragmented majority. So we have to get a better mix the proposed Assembly i.e. go higher thereon the District. Any plan for devolution must provide autonomy within reasonable parameters and not make it a stepping stone for an unilateral declaration of independence (UDI), Federal and Provincial Governments retaining some controls that will act as a bar against separatist tendencies. How does one exercise the fiat of the Federation by essentially making nearly a 100 or so, the Districts will actually become in all but name if the District Government Plan is implemented in its present form? Would Balochistan be able to control 26 such Districts directly? Or for that matter Punjab 34?
