The Economist.
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Was Philip of Macedon, who reputedly coined the phrase divide and rule,
more than 2,000 years ago, strongmen never since have employed the tactic to cement their power?
The military man who really rules Pakistan, despite the existence of a president
and a prime minister who are both nominally his superiors, seems to have taken the lesson literally.
Field Marshal Asim Munir, the Trump-flattering head of Pakistan's armed forces,
reportedly wants to do away with his country's four provinces,
which date to the creation of Pakistan in 1947. They may be divided into 12 new ones,
or perhaps 15, or perhaps even 160 much smaller and less powerful units.
These new mini-polities might be ruled by elected chiefs,
or by provincial or district assemblies, or by nominees of the government, i.e.
Field Marshal Muneer.
Although the details have yet to be revealed, it's abundantly clear who will benefit.
In principle, the plan has some logic.
The existing four provinces are a mixed bag.
The most populous, Punjab, has 128 million inhabitants, slightly over half the national population.