DERA GHAZI KHAN: The newly-founded Janoobi Punjab Soba Mahaz (JPSM) has jolted electable politicians of trans-Indus districts -- Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan.

The front is led by Balochi-Seraiki speaking Mir Balakh Sher Mazari, the Mazari tribe chief and former prime minister. Other tribes’ leaders Nasrallah Darishak, Maqsood Leghari and Fateh Muhammad Khan Buzdar have also joined the JPSM. The joining of these tribe leaders in the front is a major shift in their stance as earlier they were the supporters of the fulfillment of promises made with them on the occasion of the annexation of tribal areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur in 1950-52.

At the time of the annexation of tribal areas to Pakistan, the state had promised that these areas would be developed on a par with settled areas and would be made part of settled areas. These promises were never fulfilled. Now, these sardars are out to support the creation of a province consisting of south Punjab areas.

The annexation document was signed by tribal chiefs, among them Mr Mazari is the last living signatory. The annexation plan had the strong backing of the Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

All tribal chiefs are, however, not on the same page regarding the establishment of a separate province.

Leghari tribe chief and MPA Jamal Khan Leghari, his brother and federal minister Awais Leghari, MNA Jaffar Khan Leghari, and Gorchani and Lund elders are still with the ruling PML-N while the chief of Khosa tribe and former governor Zulfiqar Khosa is in search of a better place. Among the tribal chiefs, Qaisrani tribe chief Mir Badshah Qaisrani stands out as he demands the annexation of Baloch-dominated Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts with Balochistan besides the formation of Pothohar and Seraiki provinces.

Mr Qaisrani said he would convene a jirga of representative chiefs of Baloch tribes of the mountainous Sulaiman Range to muster their support for the cause.

He said the chief of Leghari tribe, Sir Jamal Khan Leghari and his grandfather Manzoor Khan Qaisrani, had opposed the annexation of the Punjab tribal areas with the Punjab province. He said the jirga would demand the annexation of Baloch areas with Balochistan.

Mr Mazari told Dawn he had no regret over singing the annexation of tribal areas with Punjab. He said the time had come when the bifurcation of Punjab would help us develop both settled and tribal areas of south Punjab.

He said they were demanding the province on administrative grounds to strengthen the federation and democracy. About the convening of chiefs jirga for annexation in favour of Balochistan, the elder Mir said that who would join the chief jirga as Legharis, Gorchanis and other tribal chiefs were linked with mainstream politics of Punjab.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2018