Speaking to the media on Monday, Iqbal said, “The resolution passed in the Punjab Assembly regarding Bahawalpur and South Punjab provinces should have been worked on in letter and spirit. But the federal government one-sidedly made a national commission which was against the spirit of the resolution.”
The PML-N leader added that the government did not hold any talks with the Punjab government and there was no consensus about the national commission.
“The PPP is not interested in making a South Punjab province but only wants to use it as an electioneering slogan. If it were serious, then it could have resolved all issues during the 18th amendment committee meeting when all other issues were being talked about,” the leader asserted, while adding that the PPP and the coalition partners had kept the issue of new provinces aside during the 18th amendment talks arguing that the security situation of the country was not stable enough.
The leader further said that whenever a new province is being made, a lot of other issues also emerge, including the distribution of resources. “The new provinces are based on an agricultural economy and water will be vital for them. But in these four years, no step was taken by the government. Not a single conference was held to talk about this issue.”
He added that even the recently passed budget had no money allocated to the new provinces for initial support.
“Now that the time of the elections is here, the government has formed a controversial commission so that when reservations are raised against it, an impression will be given that the PPP wants to have the provinces made but the opposition doesn’t,” Iqbal claimed.
Protest in National Assembly
Iqbal announced that the PML-N will protest against the recent raise in petroleum prices during the National Assembly session and termed the Rs8 hike as “brutal”.
He alleged that the prices were raised so that the government could pay for its “lavish expenses and corruption” with the people’s money.
“We will demand that the price raise be taken back,” Iqbal said.
COMMENTS (18)
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The vacillating stance of the PML-N on the creation of new provinces is hypocritical, to say the least. The reality is that the PML-N is not in favour of the division of Punjab province as it would erode its political clout and its main base of political support. But in view of a vociferous demand of the people of the area for the creation of a new province and a strong opinion in its favour at the national level, it does not have the courage to admit it publicly. The demand for creation of four provinces and the objections raised on the formation of the commission are clearly ploys to scuttle the entire exercise.
Why is PML (N) not raising voice against brutal shia killings??? is it because they don't want to angry their second masters??
@ParvezM: IK is also playing the ethnic card . He was openly for changing name of NWFP to KPK.
And with South Punjab piri landlords in his party , he is happily watching PPP try to create fissures in the province .
We know Zardari game but where is Tsunami IK on this?
No one from Punjab will ever vote for PML n if Pubjab is divided . I like Iqbal Ahsan but he needs to explain to the Mian brothers not to play with PPP on the division of Punjab .
slam! Why are making the mass mad Mr Ahsan! Y your party has passed resolutions before to split Punjab! Thanx
PML (N) hopes to take the credit for new provinces, so they are using delaying tactics.
Why does NS always fall in the PPP trap????
Punjab is the majority province but it's treated with venom by PPP in every regard .
And when PPP tried to create liguistic fissures in Punjab , why didn't PML N pass a resolution that Punjab is sacred for Punjabis. Instead , why did pass a resolution for a three way split ???????
PML ideology has to be for the federation and the federating unit. How could PML N even consider dividing Punjab????Under whose mandate did they pass those overnight resolutions .
The only way for PML N to redeem itself is to pass another resolution for integrity Punjab .
Is this news? We have been listening to this "broken record" of PML-N for 1-1/2 years now.
@khan of capetown atleast he is in his country you are in cape town so his claims look more credible
There is no controversy. Either you are in favor of new provinces, or you are against them. Stop blaming PPP for your indecisiveness. This whole episode has fully exposed the intentions of your party. First you brought in the issue of Bahawalpur, and when the PPP agreed to it, you are presenting other excuses. You were never honest to begin with.
What about FATA!??
As if Mr. Ahsan Iqbal is the most credible man in the country to claim such things.
It is the rights of people of that Province to decide whether it has to split up. If people of Punjab says No, then other three provinces cannot decide it in isolation that Punjab should be split into two provinces. It is simple as that. Infact, Punjab is also biggest province, so no decision by any commission should be taken without the approval from the Punjab Assembly. This is true Zardari party is playing very shrewd here.
well done
he is right