AhmedpurEast:Amir of Bahawalpur Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi has said that the long standing problems of 12.5 million Bahawalpuries would not be resolved till the restoration of former Bahawalpur province.
All political forces of former Bahawalpur province should unite to get their rights which had been deprived by all previous governments, he said while talking to ex-MNA Arif Aziz Sheikh, Tehsil president PML(N) Shehzad Suhail Khakwani, ex-civil judge Yahya Khan Kulachi, PTI leader Nakhdoom Syed Amjad Hussein Bukhari along with a group of Union Councils Chairmen headed by Dr Fayyaz Awan in his office at Sadiq Garh Palace Dera Nawab Sahib.
Abbasi stated that restoration of former Bahawalpur province was launched in 1969,in which scores of the activists including his uncle late prince Mamoonur Rashid Abbasi were sent to jails while some embraced Shahadat during this movement.
He categorically stated that we are not opponent of the creation of South Punjab province but do not include Bahawalpur into it. He supported the demand of the referendum on Bahawalpur province issue and announced to accept its results.
Nawab Abbasi demanded of government to restore Bahawalpur province and create South Punjab province consisting of Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions according to Punjab assembly unanimous resolution.
Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi said that former Bahawalpur state functioned as province from 1951 to 1954, Bahawalpur assembly had elected its own chief minister but after its merger in One Unit this area was neglected.
Rulers set aside Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah promises with his grandfather late Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Khamis Abbasi who first of all joined hands with Quaid-e-Azam and supported newly created country Pakistan with huge gold and net cash.