'People will scrap PML-N if they scrap demand of separate province'

Federal Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said if Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) will scrap the people’s demand of a separate province then people will scrap the PML-N as well, Express 24/7 reported Saturday.

She said this while speaking to the media in Lahore.

Awan said that the demand of forming a new province has only been raised from Punjab.

The federal minister said that if people want a new province then the government should let them form one.

She said that Punjab has a population of 120 million people and administratively it is a tough job to handle such a large population.

Awan said that the demand to carve out a new province is justified.

Furthermore, she said that the government is consulting the matter with all the stakeholders including the PML-N leadership.

The idea of creating a Seraiki province is strongly opposed by the PML-N leadership, on account of which, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif is expected to chair a meeting of a 15-members committee on Monday to discuss the issue of new provinces.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid's (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Zahiruddin Khan submitted a bill seeking the establishment of a South Punjab province.