Yousuf Raza Gilani urges creation of South Punjab province

Stresses new province can contribute to the national exchequer

MULTAN: Former prime minister and Senior Vice President of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the creation of a South Punjab province, with Multan as its provincial capital, is the need of the hour.

He said this would help alleviate the burden of the federation and end the sense of deprivation among the people of South Punjab. Gilani stated that the creation of a Bahawalpur province is against the spirit of federation.

He further said Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) wants the dismemberment of the country through its slogan of a Bahawalpur province. “Bahawalpur is no longer a separate state, as it used to be, after becoming a part of Pakistan.” He said inciting people to demand another province is neither logically nor economically viable in the perspective of a South Punjab province. He maintained PML-N wants to maintain dynastic politics in South Punjab as it has enjoyed the same in the upper part of the province. “The people of Punjab have rejected the mandate of PML-N in previous elections.”

Gilani said Nawaz Sharif’s party was no longer in a position to establish control in Punjab, particularly the south.

He explained that his concern was only with Pakistani citizens, such as the Baloch residing in Pakistan. He referred to the Aghaz-e-Haqooq Balochistan Package, introduced by PPP during its previous tenure, to end the grievances of people in that province.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2019.