SOMETIMES I wonder why people detest politicians so much. Then our elected leaders act in a manner that justifies this impression.

I am a native of south Punjab and a Pakistani citizen. I vociferously condemn the recent act of several MPAs and MNAs who raised the issue of a south Punjab province for their personal gain. I am disappointed by their rank opportunism in using this excuse to change party loyalties, and improve their chances in the next election just months away.

There is a pressing need for more provinces, especially a south Punjab as well as a Bahawalpur province to cater to the tens of millions of souls living in this region. But it should not be a policy where the end justifies the means. The dozen or so politicians that have raised the new province slogan for personal gain will be rejected in the elections. They should ask themselves why they chose to stay silent all these years. They may have short memories, but not the people.

Hafiz Khuram Jamil Qureshi

Bahawalpur

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2018