LAHORE, April 15: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif came up on Sunday with a proposal for Bahawalpur province in what appeared to be an effort to counter the PPP’s move for a Seraiki province.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is of the view that it has no issue with the Seraiki province if it is formed on administrative grounds, but Shahbaz Sharif says his party is opposed to any move by ‘plunderers’ of national wealth to create new provinces.

Responding to a question about President Zardari’s go-ahead to Prime Minister Gilani to enhance efforts to forge consensus among major political parties in favour of Seraiki province, Shahbaz Sharif said: “We are not against the creation of new provinces if a national leadership with love for Pakistan, and not the looters, takes such a decision.” He said no-one would be allowed to usurp the rights of Punjab and plunder its resources.

The chief minister asked why no-one today was raising the issue of Bahawalpur province. “It is an injustice to the people of Bahawalpur. Bahawalpur province should have been restored after dissolution of One Unit.”

Meanwhile, the PML-Q said the PML-N was not allowing it to table a resolution for creating Seraiki province.

“We have submitted the resolution on many occasions but it does not go beyond the speaker’s chamber. The PML-N is doing so because it fears that the resolution will be approved by majority,” said PML-Q central information secretary Kamil Ali Agha.

PPP MPA Faiza Malik said the PML-N was a major hurdle in the way of Seraiki province. “It does not want prosperity in southern Punjab but the PPP will make efforts to get them their rights,” she said.