Referendum on Renaming the NWFP
By Colonel Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Westridge, Rawalpindi
Mansehra , Abbottabad and Hazara have been observing complete strike for the past few days in protest to the renaming of the province: today no vehicle was allowed to enter or leave the area, thus cutting it off from the rest of the country. This is just the beginning and more unrest is likely to follow in other parts of the province.
The reaction was quite expected. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ANP clamored for the renaming of the NWFP on purpose. The unwarranted measure falls in line with their objective of giving rise to ethnic polarization in an otherwise very peaceful province. Why is the ANP bent upon dividing my province on linguistic grounds? Are they still harboring their age-old grudge against the state of Pakistan and want to achieve its fragmentation by raising such issues?
If they are sincere, patriotic and democratic, as they claim, why don’t they hold a referendum in the province to settle this contentious issue once and for all?
****
Bhutto’s Legacy
April 4 th was the 31 st death anniversary of ZAB and the electronic media gave it quite an elaborate and extensive coverage. Every Jiala appearing on the mini screen rightfully praised the charismatic leader and vowed to take his mission forward. Their avowed dedication looked, at least to me, quite amusing, superficial and perfunctory in the wake of the treatment being meted out to the masses by them. Kindly allow me to ask them (and the politicians of other political parties as well) a simple question through the courtesy of your columns. Can anyone of them swear by his/her mother that he/she spent the millions to contest the elections just for serving the masses, the masses and nothing but the masses?
