LAHORE:
Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan has sent a letter to National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, demanding a halt to the proceedings of the commission on two new provinces, sources told The Express Tribune. The proposed new provinces are South Punjab and Bahawalpur.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)’s President Nawaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and their legal wizards drafted the letter late Sunday night, and forwarded it Monday morning to Rana Iqbal Khan. The letter is now to be forwarded to Fehmida in response to her letter which she wrote three weeks ago.
The commission – comprising six senators and as many MNAs – is scheduled to have its maiden meeting today (Tuesday) to discuss the formation of two new provinces. The PML-N’s three members on the committee – MNAs Saud Majeed and Tehmina Daultana and Senator Rafique Rajwana – have been told by their party to stay away from the commission’s meeting.
Draft letter
According to sources who shared details of the draft of the letter, three points have been raised. Firstly, the Punjab Assembly speaker requested that the proceedings of the commission be stopped immediately.
Secondly, the speaker complained to Fehmida of not providing him the official copy of her directions to form a commission on President Asif Ali Zardari’s reference.
Thirdly, Rana Iqbal pointed out that the Punjab Assembly’s resolution on two new provinces called for a discussion on the formation of other provinces in the country as well, besides those proposed in Punjab. He called for a truly ‘national’ commission which includes all stakeholders in the country.
Sources added that Nawaz vetted the letter and asked the speaker to forward it to Fehmida.
Court application?
Those familiar with the development also said that Nawaz directed Nisar to conduct a press conference in Islamabad over the proceedings of the commission to dispel the impression that the PML-N was “not concerned with the formation of a South Punjab province”. They said Nisar is likely to address the press conference today.
Sources added that the letter is actually part of the PML-N’s strategy to take the matter to the court. If the commission does not stop proceedings after receiving the letter, the provincial assembly speaker will then move the court.
Earlier, while talking to The Express Tribune, Rana confirmed that he would move the court against the commission.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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Where is PTI hiding??
People will not spare traitors of Punjab i.e PML Q and PPP Punjab!!!!!!
Weak political parties want to break Pakistan into pieces so they can rule small pieces of land for own gains power and plundering. Every small province wil have a separate army of ministers! So the corruption will be multiplied!
Sane decisions should be made for more feasible provinces not on the basis of politcal gains or interests, but truely on administrative purposes.
Punjab was first divided in 1947 into East and West Punjab. Later East Punjab was further divided into Haryana, Himachel Pardesh, Chandigarh, Delhi and Remaining Punjab. Now there is a plan to divide West Punjab. Had there been a united Punjab today it would have been formidable. Its all political. Punjab will never be divided again!!!!
PML N needs to present new resolution to protect the prutakism snd territorial integrity of Punjab .
Nawaz and Shahbaz have been totally incompetent in safeguarding interests of Punjab. Mark my words , Punjabis will NEVER forgive them if Punjab is divided .
Jinnahpur next?
No to the division of Punjab. One with India was enough. Punjab should not be sacrificed at the altar of politics of personal gain.
This is too muhc. Division of Punjab will happen over our dead bodies. Punjab cannot let small provinces bully it. Wake up before its too late. Jag Punjabi jag teri pag nu lag gaya dagh.
We need to have more provinces by subdividing all our existing provinces, not on ethnic or linguistic bases but for the purposes of improvement in administration and governance. PPP's sinister design of dividing Punjab on linguistic basis must be resisted.
First principle should be defined on which new provinces will be based on whether population, language, ethnicity etc. and only then this can move forward. Targeting Punjab and dividing is not principle, it is hate.
I support PML-N's stance on this issue. If provinces have to be created then it should be done nationally in all provinces with a national commission. Secondly, why people like Farooq Sattar have been added in the commission if its only meant for Punjab? This is utter hypocrisy to divide only one province and not the others.
PMLN"s numbers are counted.1st they tried to divide Saraikistan by supporting the idea of Bahawalpur without any demand from real sons of soils as they want to live with other Saraikis of Multan and D G khan division.When PPP accepted creation of Bahawalpur province then they back tracked because Viceroy of Saraikistan Shahbaz SHrif can't digest the land which he rules as Mughal emperor.Instead of trying to lower the Saraiki grievances regarding their langugae,culture,socio economic issues,now they are trying to bulldoz them by majority of punjabis in Punjab.Now they want to make it Saraiki-Punjabi issue and trying to play with Punjabis sentiments by coining the issue that PPP wants Punjabs division. @Awans.We are happy whatever you are saying.Let the Punjabi be nationalist and then come back to their occupy resources according to their population.At the "fake"name of "pakistaniyat" they have bulldozed every other ethnic group especially Saraikis and have plundered their resources.By this we will be happy too.
We need to have more provinces for greater management. However, division on the basis of nationalism is totally un-acceptable. Tomorrow they will ask for sth undesired. This south Punjab province should also have part of Sindh, Balochistan and KP.