MULTAN, Oct 29: The three-day Seraiki National Conference on `Language, education, media’ which began on Saturday in the city, concluded on Monday in Bahawalpur with a set of demands.

The meeting demanded immediate announcement of an administrative region for the Seraiki nation if there is any constitutional delay in the formation of a separate Seraiki province.

The participants demanded establishment of an agriculture university, women university, television station, engineering university, upgradation of Nishter medical college as medical university and changing the name of Pervaiz Elahi institute of cardiology in Multan.

They also demanded establishment of Seraiki departments in Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khwaja Fareed University in DG Khan, Kauray Khan University in Muzffargarh, construction of Nishter Ghat Bridge and cancellation of allotments of land of Seraiki belt to military officials.

The conference also demanded an equal share in Senate seats and gradual transfer of administrative powers to Seraiki belt, ending of entrance tests in educational institutions, ban on birds hunting, construction of bridges on all Seraiki belt rivers, share of jobs at provincial and federal levels for its population, protection of its historical heritage and inclusion of Seraiki language as a subject at matric and intermediate levels.

A number of Seraiki political activists, writers, poets and intellectuals from DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Mianwali participated in the conference.

Aslam Rasoolpuri, Zahoor Dhareja and Dr. Ahsan Wahga presented papers on nationalism and suppression of Seraiki language in education and media.

Talking to this correspondent, Seraikistan Qaumi Movement president Hameed Asghar Shaheen said his party would not contest elections because they believed that elections would not solve the problems of the country.

“The solution lies in holding referendum on basic issues, including creation of a separate province for Seraiki people,” he said.