LAHORE, Jan 27: MQM Coordination Committee Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar says his party desires creation of a southern Punjab province before elections and the entire political parties must get the required amendments approved by the parliament by putting aside their differences in this regard.

“Quaid-i-Tehrik Altaf Husain was the first man, who raised demand for creation of southern Punjab province at his rally held in Multan in December 2011. Later the MQM was the first party that presented a bill to the effect in

the parliament in February last year,” Sattar told a press conference at his party’s secretariat here on Sunday in Muslim Town.

He said since the country had been passing through a very crucial period, all political and religious forces should come forward and play their role actively in resolving the ongoing crises being faced by the country.

He appealed to the parties to approve the constitutional draft bill on new province in the parliament.

He said since a majority of the parties were agreed on the creation of south Punjab province, they should reject those opposing it. “If we fail to do this, it would not be done during next 10 to 15 years.”

Sattar told a questioner that the people wanted a separate province instead of being ruled by ‘Takhat-i-Lahore.’