Qureshi writes to PPP, PML-N for cooperation on South Punjab

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has invited Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari seeking their cooperation for the legislation pertaining to the creation of South Punjab province.

Addressing a press conference in his hometown Multan on Saturday, Qureshi, who is Vice Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), made the letters to the opposition leaders public, saying that he requested them to nominate their representatives.

“As PTI vice-chairman… I request you to nominate two members of your respective parties to the special committee of parliament, which will be entrusted with the task of drafting the legislation,” the foreign minister told reporters, while detailing the contents of his letter.

In these letters, Qureshi asked Shehbaz and Bilawal to extend their support for the creation of a separate province because a two-thirds parliamentary majority was conditional to getting the required legislation passed.

The separate province will comprise Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions, according to the foreign minister. He said that a private-member bill was tabled in Senate on January 17, by a PML-N lawmaker that was endorsed by both the PPP and the PTI.

“The creation of south Punjab was promised in the PTI’s manifesto. It is also the wish of 35 million people of the region,” he said. “The only hurdle [to deliver on this promise] is the absence of the two-third majority in parliament for which the PTI needed the support of the opposition parties,” he added.

That was why, he said, he had written a letter to Bilawal and Shahbaz and sought their cooperation for establishment of South Punjab province. “Let us play a historic role in making this wish of the 35 million people a reality,” Qureshi said.

Read Qureshi says PTI revived economy despite all challenges

Responding to a question, the foreign minister stated that the PTI government was ready to share the credit of South Punjab province with the PPP and the PML-N. He hoped that the leadership of both political parties – the PPP and PML N – would respond positively and in-writing.

To another question, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that PTI government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, would complete its tenure, adding that the opposition’s wish for an in-house change would remain a dream.

About economic improvement, he mentioned a new report of the World Bank about economic situation in Pakistan. “The country is making growth of 5.37%. “During PML-N tenure, the per-capita income was $547, which has now jumped to $1,666 despite coronavirus complications,” he said.

About the tractor march plans of the PPP, Qureshi stated that it was political right of the PPP. He however hinted that the PTI would also move from Punjab to Sindh. “All opposition parties in Sindh have rejected the local bodies system, introduced by PPP Sindh government,” he said.

“The Sindh government wants to bring such a system in which elected representatives will lack powers to provide relief to masses. However, the PTI government will fully empower the elected representatives of local bodies system,” he added.

When asked about rumours of the presidential system, Qureshi termed it mere speculation. On incidents of terrorism, he paid rich tributes to the armed forces for fighting against the terrorists. “The armed forces are foiling the nefarious designs of the enemies, who wanted to destabilise the country.”

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)