Separate province: Seraikistan Qaumi Ittehad to organise train march
‘Our culture is more than 5,000 years old and we have our own land’.
SUKKUR:
“Seraiki people want only Seraiki province and nothing else,” said the Seraikistan Quami Ittehad Chairman Khawaja Ghuam Fareed Korejo while addressing a press conference in Kashmore on Wednesday.
“Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Muttahida Qaumi Movement are misleading the nation about the creation of other provinces, including South Punjab and Bahawalpur,” said Korejo. “But we only want a Seraiki province. It will consist of 23 districts, out of which 21 will be under the occupation of Punjab and two under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” He made it clear that there were no territorial disputes with Sindh or Balochistan.
While replying to a question about Mohajir province, Korejo said that Sindh belonged to Sindhis and there is no space for a Mohajir province in it. Our culture is more than 5000 years old and we have our own land, he said. According to him, the government, its allies and the opposition have politicised the Seraiki peoples` genuine demand and have begun point scoring from the issue.
Since the government is serious about the issue, Korejo said that his organisation has decided to organise a train march on June 24, from Kashmore to Dera Ghazi Khan. If the government failed to meet our demands, then we will stage a sit-in outside the President House in Islamabad and the residence of Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
Whlile criticising the Punjab government, he said that the protective embankments which broke during the 2010 floods have not yet been repaired and must be given immediate attention. He rejected the closure of canals in the Seraiki belt and demanded that the government release water to all of them.
“A large area of agricultural land is allotted to non-Seraikis,” Korejo said. “The government should cancel their allotment and give the land to landless Seraiki peasants.”
He also criticised the entry test for seeking admission to medical and engineering colleges and claimed that Seraiki students are discriminated against.
He also demanded that the government also allot a quota for Seraiki candidates in government jobs in federal and provincial departments.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2012.
“Seraiki people want only Seraiki province and nothing else,” said the Seraikistan Quami Ittehad Chairman Khawaja Ghuam Fareed Korejo while addressing a press conference in Kashmore on Wednesday.
“Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Muttahida Qaumi Movement are misleading the nation about the creation of other provinces, including South Punjab and Bahawalpur,” said Korejo. “But we only want a Seraiki province. It will consist of 23 districts, out of which 21 will be under the occupation of Punjab and two under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” He made it clear that there were no territorial disputes with Sindh or Balochistan.
While replying to a question about Mohajir province, Korejo said that Sindh belonged to Sindhis and there is no space for a Mohajir province in it. Our culture is more than 5000 years old and we have our own land, he said. According to him, the government, its allies and the opposition have politicised the Seraiki peoples` genuine demand and have begun point scoring from the issue.
Since the government is serious about the issue, Korejo said that his organisation has decided to organise a train march on June 24, from Kashmore to Dera Ghazi Khan. If the government failed to meet our demands, then we will stage a sit-in outside the President House in Islamabad and the residence of Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
Whlile criticising the Punjab government, he said that the protective embankments which broke during the 2010 floods have not yet been repaired and must be given immediate attention. He rejected the closure of canals in the Seraiki belt and demanded that the government release water to all of them.
“A large area of agricultural land is allotted to non-Seraikis,” Korejo said. “The government should cancel their allotment and give the land to landless Seraiki peasants.”
He also criticised the entry test for seeking admission to medical and engineering colleges and claimed that Seraiki students are discriminated against.
He also demanded that the government also allot a quota for Seraiki candidates in government jobs in federal and provincial departments.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2012.