No Seraiki province minus DI Khan, Tank, demand MQM, DSP
Protesters want Seraiki province to be drawn up according to the 1981 census by the army.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
The Dera Seraiki Party (DSP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday opposed the passage of a resolution calling for the Seraiki province without including Dera Ismail Khan and Tank.
Leaders of both the parties organised a protest against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Haq Nawaz Park. They held placards and banners inscribed with slogans for inclusion of the two districts in the creation of a Seraiki province.
Javed Shah Sharazi, Chairman of DSP, told The Express Tribune “we oppose the resolution and it will be only acceptable to us if it is according to the census conducted by Pak Army in 1981.”
He said that the region, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank consists of Seraiki people, who have their own distinctive language, culture and history. Sharazi further criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, saying people living in the southern parts of the province have been deprived of their rights.
President of the party, Muhammad Aslam Kala Wala told The Express Tribune, “the Viceroy of Indian sub-continent, Lord Curzon separated Dera Ismail Khan Division from Punjab in 1901 and made it a part of the then NWFP.”
He further said that their party has marked November 9 as a black day every year ever since and have burnt effigies of Lord Curzon to vent their anger against his decision of separating DI Khan from the Seraiki region.
“The party still pays tribute to those 13 Seraiki Hindus of the district who died on the same day during a protest against the viceroy’s decision,” he added.
He vowed to continue their agitation till the fulfillment of their demand.
Tariq Qureshi, the DI Khan Division in-charge of MQM said that the PPP should include its demands in the resolution to make it comprehensive in giving equal representation to people living in the Seraiki belt.
The Dera Seraiki Party (DSP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday opposed the passage of a resolution calling for the Seraiki province without including Dera Ismail Khan and Tank.
Leaders of both the parties organised a protest against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Haq Nawaz Park. They held placards and banners inscribed with slogans for inclusion of the two districts in the creation of a Seraiki province.
Javed Shah Sharazi, Chairman of DSP, told The Express Tribune “we oppose the resolution and it will be only acceptable to us if it is according to the census conducted by Pak Army in 1981.”
He said that the region, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank consists of Seraiki people, who have their own distinctive language, culture and history. Sharazi further criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, saying people living in the southern parts of the province have been deprived of their rights.
President of the party, Muhammad Aslam Kala Wala told The Express Tribune, “the Viceroy of Indian sub-continent, Lord Curzon separated Dera Ismail Khan Division from Punjab in 1901 and made it a part of the then NWFP.”
He further said that their party has marked November 9 as a black day every year ever since and have burnt effigies of Lord Curzon to vent their anger against his decision of separating DI Khan from the Seraiki region.
“The party still pays tribute to those 13 Seraiki Hindus of the district who died on the same day during a protest against the viceroy’s decision,” he added.
He vowed to continue their agitation till the fulfillment of their demand.
Tariq Qureshi, the DI Khan Division in-charge of MQM said that the PPP should include its demands in the resolution to make it comprehensive in giving equal representation to people living in the Seraiki belt.