ISLAMABAD: More than a dozen lawmakers from southern Punjab, who recently parted ways with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Wednesday announced to join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
“We presented our case for a separate province on April 9 and Imran Khan while presenting his 11-point agenda at Lahore rally mentioned in his eighth point that southern Punjab will be made into a separate province,” MNA Khusro Bakhtiar, who headed the Junoobi Punjab Suba Mahaz (JPSM), told a press conference alongside PTI chief Imran Khan. “On April 29, under the shadow of Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, Imran Khan promised to make a separate province in southern Punjab,” he said.
Lamenting that the PML-N did not listen to their demands for a separate province, Bakhtiar asked, “Then who should we have gone to?” “PPP also raised the slogan for a separate southern Punjab province but failed to fulfil its promise,” he said. “Now, Imran Khan and I have decided to join hands,” he announced.
Bakhtiar said that southern Punjab has been home to his family for nearly 800 years. “We have faced a lot of injustices,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, PTI chief Imran Khan said, “I am fairly new to politics but you would remember that a lot of parties before me promised southern Punjab province and did not deliver.” Taking a hit at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Imran said, “Parties have been making promises for years but never fulfilling them. Some came into power thrice and still say if they get one more chance they will make a Naya Pakistan.”
“I believe that it is very difficult to administer big units,” he said, explaining why he supports a separate province for south Punjab. “I have been to Switzerland and people are the happiest there because they have 25 cantons for a population which is less than Lahore. Each canton makes its own decisions after hearing the demands of people,” he said.
The PTI chief said people from cities across Punjab are moving and doing business in Lahore because the government only invests there. “Government only invests in Lahore and that even close to Raiwind.”
Stating that making a province is not easy, Imran highlighted the need for a separate province for southern Punjab and the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “We will also expedite FATA’s merger into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
Imran also stressed the need for a local government system. “Local government system is very important. Only the local government knows the problems of the locals. If there is no local government system, the corruption happens as nexuses are formed,” he said. “A genuinely empowered local government system is the answer for the people of Pakistan. There is a mess in Karachi because the local government there is not empowered,” he added.
Responding to a question regarding ‘aliens’ that former premier Nawaz Sharif speaks of, Imran said, “Just look at the Asghar Khan case. Look at the case and you will find out how poor Mian Sb received Rs 35 lakhs.”
A month ago, in a major blow to the ruling party, eight legislators parted ways and announced the mass movement Junoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaaz (JPSM) for the sole purpose of making southern Punjab a separate province. Soon after the announcement, rumours were afloat that the disgruntled leaders will shift loyalties to PTI.
The movement currently has at least 15 politicians. It is headed by state minister for foreign affairs Khusro Bakhtiar, MNA Tariq Iqbal from Vehari; MNA Muhammad Qasim from Multan; MNA Basit Bukhari from Muzaffargarh; Sardar Dareshak, Saleem Ullah Chaudhry, Alam Dar Laleka and Syed Asghar Ali Shah.
Published in Daily Times, May 10th 2018.
