BAHAWALPUR, Jan 27: The movement for the restoration of Bahawalpur province launched on Sunday a protest campaign against the proposed Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab (BJP), which included the divisions of Multan and DG Khan and Mianwali and Bhakkar districts.
In this connection, chief of the movement Muhammad Ali Durrani accompanied by activists, lawyers and traders led a rally and staged a token sit-in on busy railway road crossing of Model Town A and B.
The participants raised slogans against the enlarged territory of the proposed BJP and the “puppet” parliamentary commission (PC). They demanded the restoration of original Bahawalpur province comprising three districts. The sit-in suspended vehicular movement on the road.
Earlier, at a press conference, Mr Durrani, also a former minister, announced launching a vigorous movement against PC’s recommendations, which he said, undermined interests of the Bahawalpur people.
Durrani termed it an intrigue against the local population by Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and former PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
He said the people would never compromise on their legal and constitutional right. He said PC had no legal and constitutional right and powers to change the territorial jurisdiction of the former Bahawalpur province. Durrani said some feudal lords eyed the 6.4 million acre fertile land of Cholistan ‘after selling the waters of Sutlej and Beas but their nefarious designs would be foiled.’
He told a questioner that political parties supporting their point of view would be welcomed to join the movement.
Speaking on the occasion, Lahore High Court Bar Association, Bahawalpur, President Yahya Khan, Muttahida Anjuman Tajran President Hafiz Muhammad Younus, Sirafa Association President Tariq Abbasi and other notables announced active participation in the movement.
Hafiz Younus hinted at shutter down strike and blocking railway tracks during the protest drive. Ahmedpur East Bar association President Malik Nazar Husain announced strike on Monday (today). APCA Punjab President Fakharur Rehman announced clerks’ support.
Meanwhile, ex-parliamentarian Syed Tabish Alwari said the PPP-led coalition did not have two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to carve out any new province.
In his statement here on Sunday, Syed Tabish Alwari, also a member of core committee headed by Punjab governor, said in the name of provinces electoral politics was being done. “At the very outset we stood for the demand for restoration of Bahawalpur province but now it is the unanimous demand of the Punjab Assembly.”
ENCOUNTER: Saddar police claimed on Sunday to have killed two alleged robbers while their accomplice managed to escape. Police officials said the deceased were yet to be identified. The bodies were removed to the morgue of Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) for autopsy.
ACCIDENT: Three people were killed and four others sustained serious injuries in a tractor-car collision near Dera Masti on national highway, about 20-km from here on Sunday.
SUCCUMBS: A woman, Salma, and her two-year-old daughter Halim Fatima of Uch Sharif succumbed to their acid burns at BVH on Sunday.
Reports said Muhammad Sadiq had thrown acid on his second wife Salma after she opposed his third marriage.
SOLAR LAMPS: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is expected here on Jan 29 to launch the campaign for distribution of solar lamps among the talented school children.