MULTAN: Seraiki activists observed black day here on Saturday in protest against the fall of Multan on June 2, 1818, at the hands of Sikh forces under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.

The activists gathered at Qila Kunha Qasim Bagh and went to the grave of Nawab Muzaffar Khan Sadozai to pay homage to Multan governor who along with his sons and a daughter was killed in the battle against the Sikhs while defending the city on June 2, 1818.

The protesters said 200 years after the fall of Multan resources of the ‘wasaib’ were still being looted ruthlessly.

They said the people of Seraiki ‘wasaib’ would continue their struggle for the creation of a Seraiki province.

Seraikistan Grand Alliance Chairman Haider Javed Sayed said it was unfortunate that the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was being observed at government level while the hero of Seraiki wasaib, Nawab Muzaffar Khan, was being ignored.

He said the new province would be the only solution to the problems being faced by Seraiki people.

Later, a protest demonstration was held outside the Multan Press Club against the annexation of Multan by Sikh army 200 years ago.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2018