MNAs call for creation of South Punjab province

The opposition as well as treasury members in National Assembly on Thursday called for creation of South Punjab province and restoration of provincial status for Bahawalpur. The major opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), vowed to extend full support to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for the creation of Southern Punjab province in Punjab.
While raising the issue of the province on the floor of the House, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif declared that PML-N is ready to extend full cooperation to PTI government for the creation of a South Punjab province and restoration of the Bahawalpur province in Punjab. He said that his party was considering tabling a private bill in the house in accordance with the resolution passed by the previous Punjab Assembly for creation of South Punjab province as well as restoration of the Bhawalpur province in Punjab.
"We are ready whole heartedly with the PTI government and demand to take step immediately for creation of the province. For this purpose, we are ready to support the government," he maintained. The opposition leader said that the PTI had promised with the people during election to create the South Punjab province and it should now take steps for its implementation.
When PTI chief whip in the National Assembly Malik Aamir Dogar accused the opposition parties of "point scoring" on the issue, opposition leader said: "This is not point scoring. Forget the past". Dogar said that the PML-N was politicking on the issue by seeking the restoration of the Bahawalpur province.
"The Bahawalpur province is not viable, so how can three districts be declared a separate province?" he asked, adding that a committee should be constituted to look into the matter. He said that PTI government is going to establish civil secretariat for South Punjab.
PPP Chairman Bilwal Bhutto Zardari said that first time the PPP raised the issue of South Punjab in the country. He said that we bring this issue in the mainstream by passing resolution in Senate. He said that the people of South Punjab deserve a new province. He said that the PPP is ready to cooperate with the PTI government for creation of new province.
Bilawal also raised the issue of price hike particularly increasing price in petroleum products, gas and others.
PPP Leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that all the political parties had promised for creation of South Punjab province and no point scoring should be done in this regard. He said that PTI had promised to create South Punjab province in 100 days but it could not. PML-Q Leader and Minister of Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema said Bahawalpur is a separate entity and it has nothing to do with south Punjab province.
He said that Bahawalpur was a province and had its won assembly till 1954. He said that we want restoration of Bahawalpur province instead of becoming part of south Punjab. He said that for this purpose, referendum could be conducted. We have no objection if another South Punjab province is created, he said. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called for a political consensus over the issue of new province.
He suggested that a parliamentary committee comprising senior leadership of all political parties be constituted to look into the pros and cons of bifurcating Punjab. He said that PTI government does not have two-third majority for legislation for new province. He also invited all political parties to support PTI government in Punjab Assembly, National Assembly, and Senate for creation of South Punjab province. The other treasury and opposition member also spoke on the issue. The opposition members also raised the issue of price hike.