PML-Q earns cadre’s ire over silence on province demand

Hazara community laments lack of enthusiasm for the creation of province.

ABOTTABAD: Taking notice of the party’s silence despite earlier promises, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) came under scathing criticism from within and without for not fervently backing the bill calling for the creation of a Hazara province.

The political leadership of the Hazara community expressed their resentment over the lack of support for the bill and termed it a move to deprive them of their right.

Earlier, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari categorically stated that the bill on the creation of the Seraiki province in Punjab will be tabled in the next session of parliament while the coalition partner, Awami National Party (ANP), would be taken into confidence to discuss the Hazara province.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) leader Ali Khan Jadoon criticised his own party, saying that the PML-Q’s leadership had falsely made “tall claims” of supporting the Hazara province and joined the coalition government on the condition of this demand.

But he lamented the fact that neither did the party members support the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) who was pushing for the bill, nor did they voice their support in favour of the bill.

“They have betrayed the people of Hazara and compromised their principles for cabinet slots”, he said.

Jadoon stated: “PML-Q’s members in parliament belonging to the Hazara community should immediately resign from their party membership and ministries ethically.”

Hitting out

Meanwhile, Provincial President Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Pir Sabir Shah termed MQM’s bill “a mere drama on the instigation of the ruling PPP for gaining political mileage”.

Shah stated: “MQM’s half-cooked move has hurt the sentiments of people of Hazara”. He assured that the PML-N would “now translate the dream of the Hazara province into reality through constitutional means very soon”.

Dr Azhar Jadoon of Tehrik Suba Hazara said: “Although MQM’s move for the Hazara province is laudable for which the people of Hazara are thankful to the leadership, it should have not agreed to dropping the resolution because their weak stand has left negative impacts on the cause of the Hazara province.”

Former provincial minister and district nazim of Haripur, Yousuf Ayub Khan, also criticised the silence of parliamentarians from Hazara on the bill. He added that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will declare Hazara as the fifth province, if they make the next government. He added that the only reason he agreed to join the PTI was on the condition of the creation of a Hazara province.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2012.