“We are here to record our peaceful protest in favour of a Saraiki province,” says Saraikistan Youth Organisation Chairman. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Civil society activists on Monday held a protest demonstration in support of a new Saraiki province and demanded the implementation of a parliamentary commission for the division of Punjab.
Scores of activists from Bahawalpur assembled in front of the National Press Club (NPC) and staged a protest in support of the proposed province. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans such as “We support the new province”, “Save Seraiki through a new province”, and “Implement the recommendations of the commission”. On January 26, a Parliamentary Commission tasked with carving new provinces out of Punjab had unanimously decided on the proposed name for the new province in southern Punjab — Bahawalpur South Punjab.
“We are here to record our peaceful protest in favour of a Saraiki province,” Saraikistan Youth Organisation Chairman Jam Iftikhar Lar, said. He added that there is no reason for any political party to object over the new province. He further said Saraiki people had some reservations over the proposed scheme of division, but people do not want further delays. The protesters called on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to not act like the colonial masters and avoid the divide-and-rule strategy.
They urged Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to refrain from creating ethnic unrest through his visits and speeches in Bahawalpur division.” They said that as the chief of the province, such actions would not be in the interest of national harmony or democracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2013.
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WHy is it wrong to divide Punjab. SInce 1947 15% of the development funds have been used i nthe south. SOuth Punjab has 33% of population and has one Government university and North punjab has 67% of population and has 17 Univrsities. R U DUMB MR.akhtar Secondly Saraiki is a separe language than Punjabi and we are tired of Punjabi Rule. The governemtn cant handle violence in Karachi and QUtta. Imagine if violance breaks out in Seraiki population with 2.82 crore poupulation.