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Distinguished former Federal Secretary Tariq Mahmud highlighted key features of Federalism before a select gathering at the UMT campus. Tracing the history of the two initial parts of the undivided country, East and West Pakistan, he observed that this geographical incongruity influenced the leaders of that time to adopt the Federal system. Mahmud then analyzed the changing pattern of federalism post-1971. He explained how sub-nationalities became incrementally disillusioned with the centrist approach. In his opinion, had they been given political space, their forced reversion to their ethnicities, languages, and glorification of their historical-cultural idiom could have been avoided. Repression of these sentiments, he observed, further leads to militancy. The centrist model, in his view, was a legacy of the pre-independence thinking that was lacking in projecting the contours of what the kind of polity was best suited for the new born country.
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The event was organized by the UMT School of Governance and Society. The audience included faculty and students from the UMT and the Punjab University, civil servants, journalists, and members of civil society.
In a lively discussion that ensued his talk, Tariq Mahmud explained the three types of Federalism prevalent in the world: a) Coming together, as in the case of Canada, Australia, etc.; b) holding together, as in case of India (which is in fact a union); and c) Putting together, as in the case of Yugoslavia. Federalism, as defined by the distinguished speaker, was a function of economic equity and political parity. He cited some errors of judgment and of management in the past such as after the discovery of gas near Sui in 1952, the supply of natural gas to Quetta was allowed as late as in 1985. In that sense, he said, the timing of a public policy decision assumes prime importance.
According to Mr. Tariq Mahmud, the most effective solution of provincial disconnect was what he termed as “Regionalization.” By this he meant an administrative respite rather than resort to break the provinces up politically into numerous new ones. According to his vision, an amalgam of several Divisions could be empowered by constitutional guarantees to manage smaller units within existing provincial dispensation, as this would not raise any political discontent among the populace because their needs will be fulfilled and their problems redressed at their doorsteps.
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