Abstract
This study attempts to understand the dynamics of the CentrePunjab relation from 2018-2013 which are of immense importance
because during this period PPP was in power in the centre and
PMLN dominated the political affairs in the province of Punjab
and this was a unique period of Pakistan history of federation in
Pakistan. History of Pakistan reveals that Federal structure in
Pakistan has been evolving and sometimes getting refined shape
and sometime vice versa. But federal system during the period
under discussion got maturity and refinement, due to variety of
factors. It is generally perceived that federal structure got
improved because the PMLN and PPP respected and honoured the
Charter of Democracy signed by both the parties, therefore they
mainly focused on the policy matter and tried to avoid petty issues.
It was because of their mutual understanding and consensus that
they passed the 18th Amendment, and other resolutions and
legislations of national importance and of common interests, were
proved in the National Assembly. These constitutional and
political developments in the centre helped to create conducive
environment for greater working relations between the centre and
provinces. However, there were few irritants that were observed
from 2008 to 2013 between the federation and Punjab and those
irritants weakened the working of the federal structure. Sometime
it appeared that the working relations between the Centre and
Province had disturbed if not halted altogether which directly
impacted the socio-economic and political development in the
country. The more the federation tried to tighten its grip over
provincial matters, the greater was the negative effect it caused on
the working of the federal system. The Punjab government under
Mian Shahbaz Sharif took strong stand about some issues, and
even he went to that level that the Chief Minister refused to accord
official protocol to the Prime Minister of Pakistan which was
unfortunate phenomenon and spoiled smooth working of the
federal system in Pakistan
Farzana Arshad , Sania Muneer, Muhammad Saleem , Zahid Mahmood . (2020) Centre-Punjab Relations, 2008-2013: A Critical Reappraisal , Journal of Pakistan Vision, Volume 21, Issue 1.
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