LAHORE: In a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday, speakers representing different organisations said that division of Punjab was against the interest of poor people.

The press conference was addressed by World Punjabi Congress Chairman Fakhar Zaman, Mudassar Iqbal Butt, Ahmed Raza Punjabi Jamil Ahmed Pal, Parveen Malik and Baba Najmi.

Mr Zaman said, “We believe in four nationalities and four national languages with Urdu as the link language.” He also said that the propagation of the division of Punjab would open a Pandora’s box. If Punjab is to be divided, there should be Hazara and Hindku provinces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three provinces in Sindh and two provinces of Balochistan. He said that all provincial leaders support their stance and are with them so far as the national and language issue is concerned.

Other speakers said the division of Punjab was a conspiracy hatched by corrupt waderas, capitalists, retired bureaucrats and decadent peers. They were of the opinion that the division would further aggravate the problems of poor people who are already suffering due to unemployment, poverty, inflation, poor health and education facilities.

Mr Butt said it’s a conspiracy against the Punjabi language and culture by corrupt politicians. He said that they would go to any extent not to allow the creation of a south Punjab province.

Mr Punjabi threw light on the historical background of Punjab. Ms Malik from the Punjabi Adabi Board said Punjab had always sacrificed. The issue of division had been politicised and only hatred was being spread, added she.

Prof Pal said the required majority was not there for the division of Punjab and that the province was the best administrated but certain political leadership was eying on undue benefits out of the division of Punjab.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2019