MULTAN, June 27 A public gathering against the allotment of Rakhooks (common grazing land) to the military personnel and bureaucracy of Punjab in the area of Seraiki wasaib was held in the town of Chowk Munda, Kot Addu tehsil, on Friday evening.

Jointly organised by Rakh Bachao Committee, Sindhoo Bachao Tarla, Halli Sanjh, Taraimet Sanjh, Seraiki Lok Party and National Party, the gathering demanded cancellation of allotments.

Addressing the protesters, Senator Mir Hasil Bazinjo of National Party said the nations could not survive if they failed to save their resources such as land, water and mineral resources. He said Baloch and Seraiki people were struggling to save their resources.

He said his party in the leadership of Mir Ghaos Bakash Bizinjo had for the first time demanded the creation of Seraiki province in the 80s but Seraiki feudals did not support the idea at that time. “Now, when awareness has risen among Seraiki people, some Seraiki feudals are demanding the Seraiki province.”

He said there was a consensus among the Baloch leadership that Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts were historically part of Balochistan and we would never give these districts to Punjab. “But if Seraiki province is formed and people of these districts want to live in the new province we will support them.” Fazal Rab Lund of Seraiki Lok Party said that about 10,000 acres land of Rakh Thal Ali, Maoza Azizabad and Sadiqabad, tehsil Kot Addu, had been allotted to military men while the local people who had been living here for centuries were being displaced forcibly.

He said another 50,000 acres land of Rakh in Bhakkar district had also been allotted to military personnel and people had moved a court against this 'illegal act'.

He said similarly about 550 acre land of Dhundi estate in Rajanpur had been allotted to a DCO and his relatives.

Khwaja Ghulam Farid of Seraikistan Qaumi Itihad said the people of Seraiki Wasaib would put up resistance to save their land and water recourses.

The gathering condemned the 'conspiracy' of dividing the Seraiki Wasaib through Senator Muhd Ali Durani of PML-Q who was demanding the restoration of Bahawalpur province.

Mazhar Lashari of Seraiki Lok Party, Taj Gopang of Seraiki Thinker Forum and Zafar Lund of Sindhoo Bachaoo Tarla were the other speakers.