All change in Pakistan

By Syed Saleem Shahzad http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD16Df04.html

ISLAMABAD - The move to change the name of restive North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) to Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa - meaning "Khyber side of the land of the Pakhtuns" - to reflect the majority ethnic Pashtun population of the province has stirred a violent backlash that adds another layer to the myriad problems Pakistan faces.

More than a dozen people have been killed in the past week in clashes between the security forces and non-Pashtun protesters in NWFP.

After a two-day debate, the senate on Thursday passed the 18th amendment to the 1973 constitution that instituted the name change. Other amendments that are still awaiting approval would result in the president being stripped of sweeping powers, including a transfer of powers from the Office of the President to the prime minister, taking away, including other things, the president's power to dismiss an elected government and appoint military chiefs. The National Assembly last week passed the amendment.

The amendments will undo the presidential powers instituted by former military dictators General Zia ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf and significantly empower parliament; marking one of the most important pieces of legislation in Pakistan's recent history.

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Splittist sentiment is spreading fast.

There are now calls for a separate Siraiki province to be carved out of Punjab. This is likely to be turned into a movement in the coming weeks. In the southern port city of Karachi, the Mohajir Qaumi Mahaz (MQM - Mohajir National Movement) has raised the possibility of splitting from Sindh province and turning Karachi and Hyderabad into a separate province.

These splits are not likely to happen any time soon. But what is worrying for the military establishment is that the flagbearers for these separate entities have traditionally been accused of being Indophile and have generally sat lightly in the American camp. The heat being raised by Pakhtoonkhwa provides them with an opportunity to stir the rabble.

Security contacts tell Asia Times Online that should such mass protests eventuate, the military is considering reviving right-wing Islamic parties as a counter force.