LAHORE: PPP Vice Chairman and Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that consultations will be held with all political parties in the country to present the bill for the creation of a Seraiki province in the assembly soon.

He made these remarks during a multi-party conference held in Multan on Sunday night, which aimed to discuss the creation of a Seraiki province. Political leaders from the PML-N, the PTI, the JI and Seraiki nationalist parties were also present at the conference.

Mr Gilani said that when he was prime minister, he established a commission to study the creation of a Seraiki province in Punjab. The commission’s findings recommended the formation of a separate province for the Seraiki community.

He expressed his commitment to advocating the creation of the province, saying that he was removed from the prime ministership for speaking in favour of a Seraiki province. He said that he instructed his son, Ali Haider Gillani, to submit a resolution in the Punjab Assembly for the creation of a Seraiki province, which was successfully raised.

Mr Gilani said that efforts would be made to reintroduce the resolution for the creation of a Seraiki province in the current assembly. He further announced that the PPP, PML-N, and other parties would include the creation of a Seraiki province in their manifestos.

He pledged to take special measures to expedite the process of creating the Seraiki province in the region.

PML-N Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hassan expressed his support for the creation of the Seraiki province at all levels. He highlighted the issues faced by the people of the Seraiki region, including poor governance, lack of opportunities for Seraiki youth, and the need to leave the country in search of jobs.

He questioned the delay in passing the bill for the creation of the Seraiki province, emphasizing that the creation of new provinces would strengthen the country. He also called for the establishment of a Seraiki regiment in the army and suggested organizing a long march to Islamabad to demand the creation of the Seraiki province.

Seriakistan National Council Chairman Zahoor Ahmad Dhareeja congratulated all the participants of the conference and suggested that similar conferences be held in Lahore or Islamabad to draw the attention of the rulers. He stated that the Seraiki people have been denied their rights and representation for the past 75 years.

Other attendees at the conference included Baloch leader Rauf Khan Sasoli, Al-sunat Waljamt Allama Farooq Ahmad Saeedi, former federal minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Pakistan Seraiki Party President Malik Allah Nawaz Wains, Rana Fraz Noon, and others.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2023