LAHORE: Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani says member countries of the United Nations should play their role to end wars which do not give solution to any global or regional problems.

He was talking to media at a cake-cutting ceremony on the 72nd birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed in Multan on Saturday. He also thanked the PPPP office-bearers and workers for organising the ceremony.

Mr Gilani said the United Nations and global media should also come together to end armed conflicts.

“We want peace. We do not want this region to fall into chaos,” he said, adding, “if regional peace is disturbed, the prices of oil will surge, causing further inflation worldwide. Wars never solve problems. Their outcomes are never good,” he warned.

Promises to revive movement for Seraiki province

The senate chairman remarked that the current wave of inflation is being driven by the war between Israel and Iran and feared a rise in petroleum prices. He stressed that the international community must intervene to stop humanitarian and economic crisis in Gaza.

Mr Gilani said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is a party of the masses, including labourers, minorities and farmers. He said the party had branches all over the world.

He said that he had joined the PPP during Ziaul Haq dictatorship and several cases over violation of 16 MPO were registered against him but he stood with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in difficult times and her martyrdom was a national loss.

He credited PPP founder Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for making Pakistan a nuclear power and giving the country its constitution. “Bhutto Sahib’s services are unforgettable,” he said.

He said that during his tenure as prime minister, he implemented the Charter of Democracy and also restored the constitution unanimously and no one voted against it.

Speaking about south Punjab, Gilani said that he had worked hard for the Seraiki region and also brought constitutional amendments for the creation of a new province.

He said the creation of a separate province was the only solution to the deprivation of the people of south Punjab. “The region cannot not solve its problems without the creation of a separate province.”

“I talked to the decision-makers of the country and they also supported the creation of the province in an informal discussion with them.”

He said a separate province would create more jobs and they will strive to revive the movement for the province with renewed energy.

“I do not believe in blackmailing anyone over the issue of the province. I will talk to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari about the issue and also request the Punjab Chief Minister to resolve sewage issues of Multan.

He said the world had acknowledged their narrative and US President Donald Trump held a meeting with the Field Marshal Asim Munir and also praised the army.

At the event, senior PPP south Punjab leaders including Senior Vice President Khawaja Rizwan Alam, General Secretary Rao Sajid, AD Baloch, Arif Shah, Ghiyas-ul-Haq, Malik Naseem Labar, Malik Shah Rukh, Rana Tahir Shabbir, Chaudhry Yasin, Khawaja Imran, Shagufta Habib, Feroza Faiz and Abida Bukhari were also present.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2025