QUETTA: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday stressed the need for reinterpretation of the Objectives’ Resolution and the Constitution in the light of 18th amendment to give more powers to federating units and said it was now the responsibility of provinces to resolve their financial issues instead continuing the blame game against the federation.

The seminar titled “Policy Dialogue on 18th Amend­ment, Provincial Autonomy and Balochistan” was organised by the Quetta Press Club.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch, Human Rights Commission of Pakis­tan Representative I.A. Reh­man, political activist Abid Masti Khan, Civil Society representative Zafrullah Khan, Daily Times Editor Rashid Rehman, Daily Jang Editor Nazeer Leghari, columnist and former lawmaker Ayaz Amir, senior journalists Imtiaz Aalam, Imtiaz Gull, Amir Mateen, Shehzada Zulfiqar, Mohammad Riaz and Saleem Shahid also spoke on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan chief minister said that the 18th amendment was a big achievement of political forces and, if truly implemented, it would bring about a big change in the country.

“Because of the 18th amendment and great sacrifices rendered by democratic forces, slowly and gradually a change is coming in the country. If the 18th amendment is implemented in letter and in spirit, it will be very good for the country, as this amendment has empowered federating units to a great extent,” Dr Malik Baloch said.

He said that it was because of this amendment that the federal government had accepted that ownership of Balochistan on the Saindak project.

Referring to mounting extremism in the province, the chief minister said that it was spreading in the Baloch belt of the province and said if the coalition government failed to deliver the people would be disappointed and were likely to move towards extremism.

HRCP representative I.A. Rehman said that devolution of powers was done under 18th amendment, but new ministries had been formed in Islamabad.

He said that Council of Common Interests (CCI) had now been made a suspended organ instead of holding its meetings regularly.

“The centre has been running business affairs of Balochistan besides continuing its control on natural resources of the province,” Mr Rehman said.

He said that such forces were being encouraged which could help centre restore its control on ministries and departments devolved to provinces under the 18th amendment. He urged both federation and provinces to take joint initiative to ensure genuine devolution of powers to provinces.

Prof Dr Jaffar Ahmed said that with the 19th amendment, the concurrent list was abolished which devolved powers to provinces and centralisation was also reduced to great extent. He, however, said that social and political ownership of the 18th amendment was lacking, which could be harmful.

He underlined the need for establishing local bodies’ institutions for devolving powers from provincial level to lowers level so that these institutions could use resources for resolving problems of the people at lower levels.

Journalist Nazeer Leghari said there was need to reinterpret the Objective Resolution and Constitution in view of the 18th amendment to give maximum powers to federating units.

South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) Secretary General Imtiaz Alam said that the two-nation theory would not have been introduced if Bengal and Punjab remained undivided.

“Pakistan was not made only for Muslims, but for all other people who were living here,” he said. He said that some elements promoted military hegemony in the country which resulted in failure of democratic process.

Columnist Ayaz Mir said that no public debate had been held on the 18th amendment and it had been moved in the National Assembly for approval as members of parliamentary committee working on the draft of the amendment, including all parliamentary parties such as the PPP, the PML-N, MQM, JUI, ANP, NP and others decided to keep the draft secret.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2014