MQM submits resolutions for formation of Hazara, South Punjab provinces

MQM chief Altaf Hussain promises to take initiative for the formation of new provinces.

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) submitted on Thursday two resolutions in the National Assembly for formation of Hazara and South Punjab provinces.

MQM’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Haider Abbas Rizvi told reporters outside the Parliament House that his party had started consulting with other political parties for the unanimous passage of these two resolutions.

Rizvi further said that their stance will become clearer when they take part in the discussion on the resolutions.

He added that MQM chief Altaf Hussain in a recent telephonic address to a congregation in Multan had promised to take initiative for the formation of new provinces.

“We have fulfilled the promise of our leader by submitting the resolutions,” Rizvi said.

He said that the MQM had proposed that the Hazara province should consist of six districts – Mansehra, Abbottabad, Khohistan, Haripur, Batgram and Togar, while a referendum should be held for the formation of a new province in South Punjab.

“Let the people of South Punjab themselves decide whether the name of new province should be Bahawalpur or Saraikistan,”
he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.