DERA GHAZI KHAN: Seraiki nationalists and intelligentsia have called the chief minister’s claim regarding proposal of inclusion of Bhakkar and Mianwali districts in employment qouta of south Punjab a political gimmick and rhetoric as, they say, without constitutional amendment to article 27 of the constitution it is not possible.

The Seraiki Lok Saanjh considers the recent declaration of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar for the restoration of job quota for Seraiki region a rhetoric. Safdar Kalasra, an SLS leader, said that job quota for south Punjab districts could not be restored without the constitutional amendment.

The matter of the fact is that the provision for job quota was originally based on zoning formula in Punjab under the 1973 Constitution. It was mandated for 20 years. For this purpose, Zone B in Punjab province was constituted, which included Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions and Mianwali and Bakhar districts. However, after the lapse of 20 years, the article 27 was although again amended in 1997, mainly owing to political pressure of parliamentary representatives from Seraiki region, but it was not actually restored by then PML-N provincial government in Punjab.

Intriguingly, again, just one month before 2018 elections, the PML-N issued a notification for 20 percent job quota for south Punjab in order to get electoral advantage.The notification was, however, struck down by the Lahore High Court on June 2, 2019. It asked the Punjab government to amend Article 27 if it had serious intent to do so.

However, so far, no serious effort has been made by the PTI government to amend the article 27 in order to make this promise practical.

Mr Kalasra said that people of the Seraiki region needed concrete measures, instead of rhetoric and empty promises. “If it is not done, Seraiki people would teach the PTI a lesson in the elections, he said.

Seraiki nationalist and poet Ashiq Khan Buzdar of Mehraywala, however, welcomed the proposal, saying that Bhakkar and Mianwali districts were historically and geographically part of Seraiki wasaib. He said a constitutional cover would be good for people of Seraiki wasaib.

Seraiki nationalist Zahoor Dhareeja said that we did not accept the government’s vision regarding geography and identity of the Seraiki wasaib or province Seraikistan.

Pakistan Saraiki Party chairperson Nukhbah Taj Langah said that there was dire need to amend the article 27 of the constitution to increase in employment qouta by inclusion of Bhakkar and Mianwali districts in employment qouta.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2021