8 PML-N lawmakers break rank to demand new province for south Punjab
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Khusro Bakhtiar, a PML-N leader from South Punjab, held a press conference on Monday flanked by like-minded lawmakers to demand a new province "for the security of the future of the children of south Punjab."
During his press conference, Bakhtiar explained: "New provincial demarcations are the need of the time. We are not here to start a rift — time has made the need for new provinces very apparent."
"The demarcation of new provinces will ensure that funds allocated for Rajanpur are not given to Multan," he continued. "All we want is equality amongst the regions."
"We have a single point agenda: the creation of a new province in south Punjab," Bakhtiar said while announcing that he, along with the other like-minded lawmakers, would be initiating the 'South Punjab Front' movement.
"The size of South Punjab is almost the same as Khyber Pashtunkhawa. We have 46 MNAs in the [National] Assembly at the moment and yet they gave us just one seat in Senate."
Bakhtiar said that the South Punjab Front will take its message to the people through the media, through schools and through personal contact with voters.
"It is natural that all of us want that each district flourishes, has better law and order, and a better education system. For these things to be achieved, we need more provinces," he said.
Speaking of the movement's future alliances, Bakhtiar said, "We are ready for dialogue with any party."
"Our goal is simple: when the new assemblies take oath, the legislation for a new province should be passed within the first session. If that does not happen, we will go to the Supreme Court," he stated to cries of assent.
Tahir Basheer Cheema, another PML-N defector, said: "This demand [for a new province] is not a new one, it is a demand our ancestors made and a demand our children will make."
"It is time we are given equal rights," Cheema continued, adding that the demand for a new province is one that various South Punjab leaders have made throughout Pakistan's history.
He added: "This need [for a different province in south Punjab] is not a linguistic problem. Our demand is simply to safeguard our rights."
During the press conference, it was announced that a total of six MNAs and two MPAs would be defecting from the PML-N and resigning from their posts soon.
However, hours after the briefing, MNA Syed Muhammad Asghar said he would not be resigning from his seat or leaving the party, but would continue to lend his support to the movement.
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Comments (51) Closed
Apr 09, 2018 04:59pm
I have no issues if new provinces are carved out for better administration no matter it is South Punjab from Punjab, or Hazara from KPK, South KPK from Baluchistan or new province by merging FATA and some regions of KPK but point is where were all these people in last five years? Why suddenly they have woken up to the reality that new provinces are needed. To carve a new province is not that simple thing on ground as it seems attractive on paper it is uphill constitutional task in a country where innocent issues like DAMS and Censes are politicized
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Apr 09, 2018 05:03pm
It is about time to take action
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Apr 09, 2018 05:07pm
I am of the view that, we must dispense with provinces and make the local governments more powerful with direct contacts with the Federal. Otherwise, we shall have an unending demands of provinces leading to the same end with three tiers of governance of no progress or responsibilities.
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Apr 09, 2018 05:23pm
The party has begun
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Apr 09, 2018 06:13pm
Too many notable political developments lately is bound to make you suspicious...why is all of this happning at this juncture
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Apr 09, 2018 06:13pm
The is an issue and it demands attention. We should not get lost in the discussion like who is making this demand but should pay attention to this persistent demand and do something about it!
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Apr 09, 2018 06:16pm
Agreed
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Apr 09, 2018 06:22pm
PML-N going down every day.
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Apr 09, 2018 06:36pm
Agreed. We need more provinces in our contry. Urban Sindh, Hazara, Southern Panjab etc.The demand is just and within political framework of our country.
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Apr 09, 2018 06:37pm
New provinces are not needed but rather the local government administration needs to be made better and effective.
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Apr 09, 2018 06:37pm
@Nomi Goraya This is the election year man, the previous alliances would be broken for the new ones, take it easy, it's that simple.
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Apr 09, 2018 06:40pm
@nafis Look at Switzerland and India. See how each unit has grown.Look at Indian Punjab which was divided into three provinces and each is flourishing. Look at UP in India which has 200 million people and one of the poorest. When people watch their interest they do better. Pakistan should be configured of roughly 30 million each unit for better development and growth.It will curb provincialism and help in national integration.
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Apr 09, 2018 07:11pm
I fully support the creation of new provinces as it will break the monopoly/domination by the largest province.
We have experienced the effect of 1970 elections. Its about time we create provinces or administrative units of almost equal size with a very strong center.
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Apr 09, 2018 07:15pm
Population of Pakistan in 1971 was 60 million, today it is over 200 million and the same number of provinces! Just as constituencies are designed on certain number of population/votes so should provinces be made on the basis of certain number of population. No one province should be larger than the total sum of the other provinces. Isnt that the reason why East Pakistan was not given its legitimate right to govern in 1971?
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Apr 09, 2018 08:06pm
Excellent Idea.
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Apr 09, 2018 09:40pm
PML N will never agree to this since they have most of seats from Punjab and they form Govt based on that. However it is really a need of the hour for better administration. Currently South Punjab is most neglected by PML N in punjab and its due share in budget and capital projects is not allocated as its voters are divided into various parties unlike upper and central Punjab predominates by PML N.
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Apr 09, 2018 09:49pm
Why these people only come when elections are there and all they have enjoyed the full term on government benches?
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Apr 09, 2018 09:58pm
very sad to say that, they are one's that are actually playing with future of children but when they see the knockout of Nawaz & Co. they suddenly switch the game to take the sympathy of the people to make them fool again with their new agenda.
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Apr 09, 2018 10:00pm
@nafis
Correct.
Country needs more provinces out of these four
provinces.
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Apr 09, 2018 10:08pm
@Mahmud
Mr. Mahmud,
Have the Pakistanis learnt from the past
otherwise Pakistan would have been a
developed country not in this critical situation?
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Apr 09, 2018 10:09pm
@Javed
Not only southern Punjab.
Pakistan needs more provinces.
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Apr 09, 2018 10:14pm
Upon the Partition of British India, 11 provinces (Ajmer-Merwara-Kekri, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bihar, Bombay, Central Provinces and Berar, Coorg, Delhi, Madras, Panth-Piploda, Orissa, and the United Provinces) joined India, 3 (Baluchistan, North-West Frontier and Sindh) joined Pakistan, and 3 (Punjab, Bengal and Assam) were partitioned between India and Pakistan.
Now India consists of 28 states, 7 union territories and 1 National capital territory, New Delhi.
East Punjab was divided into 3 provinces whereas West Punjab is still intact.
For a strong federation The Punjab should be divided into three provinces; North, Centre and South Punjab. I fully support Sardar Bulkh Sher Mazari.
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Apr 09, 2018 11:33pm
Tabdeeli is coming with the power of money. This tabdeeli will have corruption at its roots. Will it survive?
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Apr 10, 2018 12:08am
South Sind should be carved into new Province Also, or give more administrative power to local government.
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Apr 10, 2018 12:13am
I think slowly we will go back to small princely states that used to be there centuries ago.
My only concern is what difference will it make when you have weak provincial and federal administrations. These issues are administration deficiencies and corruption related rather than of demarcation.
I think this will instead of uniting people as one nation, further divide them. May be local jagir dars and political elites may feel some form of accomplishment as they will fewer others to compete with.
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Apr 10, 2018 12:31am
Should be done !
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Apr 10, 2018 12:32am
What a silly joke?
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Apr 10, 2018 12:35am
@Nomi Goraya : You forgot Sindh.
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Apr 10, 2018 12:44am
@M. Saeed .. Totally agree with that. That's how the developed countries operate. Police, roads, expressways, water and health dept, needs to be operated by local bodies. Empower the local administration. Let the local police and administrators being run by 'local' people. I live in the part of the country, where when I walk in to a police station, people don't even speak the language I understand ( and I speak our national language URDU ). But these corrupt politicians will ever let this happen and let the power be transferred out of their hands !!!
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Apr 10, 2018 01:27am
@M. Saeed I agrree
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Apr 10, 2018 01:54am
First make sure if all the children of Southern Punjab have beem administered with polio drops?
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Apr 10, 2018 01:56am
End the corruption , and Pakistan will become great again .
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Apr 10, 2018 02:04am
We need at least 12 new provinces. Carve out 3 more of each current 4 provinces. I know its not easy as Constitution says you need 75% support in provincial assembly to proceed? Lets Start.
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Apr 10, 2018 02:48am
The corrupt will stay corrupt, poor will stay poor. These politicians are fighting for the ordinary people. They just want money directly given to them.
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Apr 10, 2018 03:20am
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Those who are at the forefront for a Southern Punjab province will be the staunch opponent for a urban Sindh province ! Zardari will die fighting for Southern Punjab and against Southern Sindh province !
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Apr 10, 2018 03:53am
We are requesting a new province on Karachi and Hyderabad city also!
Please consider seriously.
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Apr 10, 2018 04:20am
You need 2/3rd majority. Both in Provincial assembly and in National assembly. This should be made an election issue in south Punjab. Why they are not doing that. They should make their own political party.
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Apr 10, 2018 04:50am
If one looks across our northern border, Afghanistan having 652,230 km2 vs Pakistan's 881,913 km2 area has 34 provinces. The southern Punjab like Baluchistan, FATA and Glgit/ Baltistan, is suffering due to neglect, lack of development, and paucity of funds
to provide economic opportunities, has forced a segment of large population to live in a state of abject poverty. The fact of the matter is that according to economic survey, most of Pakistan's 40 percent population below poverty line belong to these areas. The NL government's focus in the past and present has been to infuse funds to develope Lahore at the cost of other areas. This lopsided development approach has now imploded, and the deprived people of south Punjab, after enduring these ill treatment for decades together, are absolutely right in demanding a separate province, which is logical, workable and fulfills the aspiration of these unfortunate people. In that context, it makes sense that new provinces should be created.
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Apr 10, 2018 04:56am
After spending almost five years in assemblies ,now the demand for seperate province at eleventh hour seems fishy
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Apr 10, 2018 05:09am
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Well said brother. Pakistan and its people need a break. Can you accept that one million children in Baluchistan are kept away from schooling due to lack of funding, lack of schools to accommodate them and many other factors we all know. I am sure that other remote areas of the country must be in the same quagmire. On the other hand you see children of our elite attending private school, where the fees are mind boggling, enough to feed a poor family for a whole year. With the viberant media, do not think that it is hidden from those poor parents who feel feel totally dejected and carry resentment for the reason that despite their desire of their children to go to school they're unable to do so. We all need a break, all our children and youth must have equal opportunities to become an enlightened human being through attainment of education, which is key to all our miseries and never ending problems. This can only be achieved if a decentralized system is created.
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Apr 10, 2018 05:10am
@Sam Ahmed
Mr. Sam Ahmed,
Constitution is not an holy book.
These two corrupt parties, PPP and PML-N will
not give up the control over Pakistan and
provinces.
The administration in the country is collapsed.
The management in the country is collapsed.
The system in the country is collapsed.
The time has come to create new provinces out
of these four provinces because Pakistan is in
still stand position and rights and duties are
related to each other.
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Apr 10, 2018 05:45am
@AZAM AKBAR : Creation of more provinces will totally change the political dynamics of Pakistan. Then the Sharifs will not be in a position to dictate. Pakistan will do better.
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Apr 10, 2018 05:55am
if this is a good idea and can be successful for flourishing the country, Then why not make provinces in Sindh and balochistan too. like upper Sindh, Lower Sindh, Upper Baluchistan, Lower Baluchistan. Or north south, whatever is the name.
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Apr 10, 2018 07:37am
All the MNAs from the south should join them to get a province of their own. It is need of the hour.
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Apr 10, 2018 07:59am
First thing, how does it ensure that the new province will bring prosperity fast to it's people because after all MNAs and MPAs were being selected from these areas for that last decades.
What did they do for their people.
Why did they take the personal benefit and perks and enjoyments of being MNAs etc.
Why didn't they refuse to take salaries, why didn't they fight at the right time and what we're their personal contribution to build roads, schools, hospitals and clean drinking water facilities.
Their areas were neglected by the central or provincial government but their personal bank balance were definitely swelled.
Anyways, if they are really sincere to serve their people ,they are late and no one has pointed out or promised what they will do after getting a separate province.
All their effort is just to secure votes for their personal winning in the next elections
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Apr 10, 2018 08:45am
Will the govt registered FIR against the 8 for inciting hatred by demanding separate province ? recently FIR was registered against Altaf Hussain for demanding separate province in Sindh
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Apr 10, 2018 09:12am
Couple of questions if anyone could answer:
1. How many times these people raised/highlighted the issues of south punjab in last four and half years on the floor of the assembly?
2. How many times these members even spoke in the parliament on any issue?
3. Do these Waderas (Feudals) really care about issues of common people in South Punjab?
We need to have more provinces but not on the basis of equal population distribution and administrative purposes only.
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Apr 10, 2018 10:20am
Should be a new province for the betterment of the region. But timing for action from these people resigned is telling something else. They enjoyed the power/money everything during full tenure. Actually they have lost ground in the peoples. They have nothing to show the masses what they have done so far. It's a slogan only for upcoming elections. Wake-up people wake-up don't get up only.
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Apr 10, 2018 12:32pm
@SAFA "They enjoyed the power/money everything during full tenure. Actually they have lost ground in the peoples. " The demand is not of these MNAs and MPAs, but that of the time. For some reason they have finally read the need of the hour at this moment. They sure may surrender their demands as their own personal interest is not linked with a smaller province. But this demand will reappear time to time, as it did in the past. Current Punjab will pay them off hugely to keep quiet. The leaders of central Punjab don't have a choice. They need status quo to survive. The people of central Punjab who should understand their long term interests, not of their leaders.
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Apr 10, 2018 10:34pm
I very much hope that such opportunists are defeated by sensible voters in the coming elections and I think our voters are more sensible - mature - now than before. Opportunists bcz they have enjoyed parliamentary privileges for the entire tenor of the parliament and now trying to play with the voters for the next round.
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Apr 10, 2018 10:41pm
@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan - who pays for the cost of MNAs and MPAs? Let's put a cap on the overall budget of MNAs, MPAs and Senator and divide the total budget equally among the three houses of parliament. Then create as many new seats as we wish. I am sure ordinary tax payer does not want to give these highly paid and under-worked class more than what they are currently getting - and not paying their electricity bills even.
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