Specialist input: Experts want Bahawalpur merged in Seraiki province
The commission on new provinces invites more suggestions from the region’s inhabitants through public adverisements.
ISLAMABAD:
A majority of experts invited by the parliamentary commission on new provinces have voted for a single Seraiki province comprising the entire South Punjab region and Bahawalpur, keeping the issue’s “historical and geographical” perspective in mind.
“Historically, Bahawalpur was a part of South Punjab. Its independent history is not too old compared to its lifespan in the Seraiki region,” said a member of the committee, asking not to be named, quoting a local Seraiki intellectual who argued in favour of a single Seraiki province in south Punjab with the inclusion of Bahawalpur.
He was invited among others by the commission to give their views regarding the fate of Bahawalpur in the creation of the new Seraiki province in the southern belt of Punjab during a meeting on Tuesday.
In the last two meetings of the commission, at least seven experts have voted for a single Seraiki province while two have demanded a separate province for Bahawalpur, said the official, adding that so far a majority was in favour of Bahawalpur being included and integrated with the Seraiki province.
The member who was present in the meeting said that experts invited to speak on the issue and present their viewpoints included intellectuals, poets, academics, political figures and other senior citizens from the region.
They have maintained that both historically and geographically, Bahawalpur was an integral part of the South Punjab region and therefore it should be made part of the new Seraiki province to be created in the region.
“In fact, then ruler of Multan gave Bahawalpur independent status in reward for its Nawabs’ obedience. Its history was not more than 100 years old at best,” said the member quoting one of the experts.
However, former MNA Muhammad Ali Durrani, sources said, objected to their suggestions and demanded that Bahawalpur either be given the status of a separate province or its status as a state should be restored.
The commission headed by Senator Farhatullah Babar heard the suggestion and decided to take both into account.
The commission has invited more suggestions from the people of the region including the general public.
“Through advertisements we have asked people to come forward and give their opinion,” said another member of the commission. He revealed that the people who have come forward so far included those who have been part of a long struggle for a separate Seraiki province for decades.
The commission has so far not considered the administrative matters related to the division of the existing region. “That is the more complicated part. But we will take all the details related to the administrative side of the issue before taking it up for discussion,” said the commission member.
The next meeting of the commission, which comprises members of the National Assembly and senators, will be held next week on December 24.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2012.
A majority of experts invited by the parliamentary commission on new provinces have voted for a single Seraiki province comprising the entire South Punjab region and Bahawalpur, keeping the issue’s “historical and geographical” perspective in mind.
“Historically, Bahawalpur was a part of South Punjab. Its independent history is not too old compared to its lifespan in the Seraiki region,” said a member of the committee, asking not to be named, quoting a local Seraiki intellectual who argued in favour of a single Seraiki province in south Punjab with the inclusion of Bahawalpur.
He was invited among others by the commission to give their views regarding the fate of Bahawalpur in the creation of the new Seraiki province in the southern belt of Punjab during a meeting on Tuesday.
In the last two meetings of the commission, at least seven experts have voted for a single Seraiki province while two have demanded a separate province for Bahawalpur, said the official, adding that so far a majority was in favour of Bahawalpur being included and integrated with the Seraiki province.
The member who was present in the meeting said that experts invited to speak on the issue and present their viewpoints included intellectuals, poets, academics, political figures and other senior citizens from the region.
They have maintained that both historically and geographically, Bahawalpur was an integral part of the South Punjab region and therefore it should be made part of the new Seraiki province to be created in the region.
“In fact, then ruler of Multan gave Bahawalpur independent status in reward for its Nawabs’ obedience. Its history was not more than 100 years old at best,” said the member quoting one of the experts.
However, former MNA Muhammad Ali Durrani, sources said, objected to their suggestions and demanded that Bahawalpur either be given the status of a separate province or its status as a state should be restored.
The commission headed by Senator Farhatullah Babar heard the suggestion and decided to take both into account.
The commission has invited more suggestions from the people of the region including the general public.
“Through advertisements we have asked people to come forward and give their opinion,” said another member of the commission. He revealed that the people who have come forward so far included those who have been part of a long struggle for a separate Seraiki province for decades.
The commission has so far not considered the administrative matters related to the division of the existing region. “That is the more complicated part. But we will take all the details related to the administrative side of the issue before taking it up for discussion,” said the commission member.
The next meeting of the commission, which comprises members of the National Assembly and senators, will be held next week on December 24.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2012.