ISLAMABAD, Jan 8: Opposition Leader in the Senate and a Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart Raza Rabbani has accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) of playing with fire and endangering the federation by trying to divide the nation on provincial and ethnic basis.

“The PML-Q must realise that once the jinnee of provincialism is out of the bottle, it will be impossible to recapture it and save the federation,” Mr Rabbani said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

Mr Rabbani said in order to further its nefarious and individualistic political agenda, the PML-Q sought as in the days of Ziaul Haq to divide the nation on provincial basis.

“This trend is not only dangerous but can prove disastrous owing to the heightened polarisation amongst the provinces and between the smaller federating units and the federation along with the regional situation.

“The powers internal and external who seek to damage Pakistan will use this to their advantage,” he remarked.

Mr Rabbani said in her life Benazir Bhutto galvanised the working class throughout the federation and this was a time to use this unity to strengthen the federation and put the country on the rail of true democracy and constitutional rule. But instead like at the time of the earthquake, he said, this national unity was with deliberate attempt being sought to be broken.