Seraiki province first, then elections: Elahi

The deputy PM hits out at PML-N for ‘suppressing’ the people of south Punjab.

VEHARI: Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi declared on Wednesday that the government will first ensure the creation of a new province in Punjab and then hold the general elections.

Addressing a public gathering in a hockey ground in Vehari district, Elahi said, “First there will be a new province and then there will be general elections.”

Vehemently supporting the idea of a Seraiki province and criticising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the deputy prime minister stated, “PML-N is well aware of the sections of people in Punjab who have been deprived of their rights. And these are the people of South Punjab.”

He had reached Vehari especially to support the political campaign of MPA Tahir Iqbal Chaudhary of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

“PML-N believes in politics of vengeance and politics of paper,” he said.

The PML-Q leader was of the view that the people of Punjab had finally realised the devastation caused to the agriculture sector of Punjab.

“I feel sorry for the rulers of Lahore who have seized fuel which was meant for the services of Rescue 1122. And today, I want to assure you all that people will snatch even bread from the PML-N in the next general elections.”

“From doctors to educators, every person in Punjab is crying foul because rulers in Lahore want to run a sultanate, not a democratic government.”

He said that two roads to Raiwind cost the people of Punjab Rs70 billion and then a bus project cost them another Rs80 billion and both were at the expense of the “blood of the people of south Punjab”.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2012.