LAHORE, Dec 13: The parliamentary committee of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) has criticised the PML-N for boycotting the Parliamentary Commission on New Provinces, calling it contempt of the joint resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly on creating the Janoobi Punjab province.

Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheeruddin who chaired the meeting on Thursday said the PML-N had deviated from its own stance as it was the party that had sought setting up of the commission.

He said the ruling party could not deprive tens of millions of people of southern belt of their right to have a new province.

He said if PML-N leaders desired official residences in Lahore, Gujranwala and Punjab Houses in Islamabad and Murree, then these would be available to them even after creation of the Janoobi Punjab.

He said the creation of new units would strengthen the federation, adding that neighbouring India had 14 provinces at the time of independence and now there were 34 provinces.