Lawmakers from the southern Punjab have welcomed the government's decision to give more autonomy to the Northern Areas (NAs), and reiterated their demand for the constitution of 'Seraikistan province' and provincial autonomy for all the provinces.
Minister for Defence Production, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, MNAs Mohsin Ali Qureshi, Jamshed Khan Dasti, and Senator Syed Javed Ali Shah have demanded constitution of 'Seraikistan province', consisting of Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions, Bhakkar, Mian Wali, Jhang, Sargodha and Dera Ismail Khan districts, which have a combined population of 50 million.
Former information minister, Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani welcomed the autonomy package for NAs, saying it was a right step. However, he questioned the denial of the restoration of provincial status to Bahawalpur, claiming it was a commitment made by the Quaid-e-Azam.
He said, "Although giving autonomy to the NAs is good news for the country, it also reflects the government's double standards towards the people of southern Punjab." He said giving autonomy to the NAs was in line with his demand of making 16 new provinces in the country, adding it was the only way to empower those seeking their basic rights.
Durrani said the demand for the restoration of Bahawalpur province was justified by the government's claims of reversing all "wrong decisions" of the previous government. He demanded of the government to restore Bahawalpur's status through the same procedure adopted for Gilgit-Baltistan. PPP lawmaker Sardar Athar Gorchani appreciated the government's decision, saying although the country was going through a difficult time, the decision would give relief to those whose rights had been neglected.
He said the southern Punjab should also be given autonomy. "We just demand an administrative division between southern and central Punjab. "Majority of the people do not know the status of the NAs, but the government has given them more autonomy. The situation in southern Punjab is also like that of Giligit and Baltistan. When autonomy could be given to the NAs then why can Punjab not be divided on administrative grounds?"
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