LAHORE: The new provinces should be on administrative rather than linguistic grounds, demands Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri.

Addressing his party workers, he said “for the first time, all parties – both in government and in opposition – are now in favour of south Punjab province and this opportunity should not be missed. Stock of administrative issues should be taken and the initiative be taken. By creating new provinces on administrative preferences, issues like unemployment, education and poverty alleviation can be better handled. It will further ensure judicious allocation of funds, better resource mobilisation and justice at local level. All these steps need to be taken and taken urgently,” he said.

He expressed his satisfaction over court’s allowing formation of new Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for a probe into Model Town incident. “The previous government formed the JIT unilaterally, which also worked unilaterally: totally ignoring the PAT point of view. The present government has also played a positive role in formation of a new JIT, which is praiseworthy. The PAT is convinced that justice will only be delivered when characters behind the veils are unveiled. The new JIT would, hopefully, do the job as per satisfaction of heirs of those killed in the incident.”

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2018