New provinces: Protest against inclusion of Tank in ‘Seraikistan’ proposal

Protest rally, attended by the Bittani, Marwat, Kundi tribes as well as Wazir tribesmen settled in Tank.

The protest rally, attended by the Bittani, Marwat, Kundi tribes as well as Wazir tribesmen settled in Tank, marched from Pir Sabir Shah Zyarat and reached Traffic Chowk where a public meeting was held.

The Tank-Dera Ismail Khan road was blocked for almost two hours, resulting in traffic jams in Tank city. The participants of the rally were carrying banners inscribed with slogans against the Seraiki province and in favour of a separate  ‘Pakhtunistan’ province for Pashtuns.

Sadat Khan told the rally that before the independence of Pakistan, they fought for Tank state against the Sikh and British forces, defeating them.

“Today, the Seraiki community, (which is) a small portion of the population limited to a few towns in Tank, is raising the unjust demand of including tank in the Seraiki province, but we will never accept it at any cost,” he added.

He added that if the government is serious in forming more provinces, a separate province starting from Mianwali to Quetta should be made for Pashtuns.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2012.