KARACHI:Representatives of different political parties have said a balanced federation is the need of hour as there is urgent need to establish separate Siraiki province on the basis of language, culture, civilization and identity which will further help strengthen Pakistan as federation.
“The burning issue of Kalabagh Dam, which could not be materialized due to trust deficit between Punjab and other three provinces, could also be easily resolved if Mianwali fistrict is included in the proposed Siraiki province.”
These thoughts were expressed by Senators and Members National Assembly (MNAs) in a seminar on topic “Siraiki Province” organized by Servants of Siraiki Society and Siraiki Awami Sangat Pakistan at a local hotel in Karachi.
MNA from Bhakkar Dr Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla said Bhakkar district was not included in South Punjab despite the fact that it was a Siraiki majority populated district. He said Bhakkar district was most neglected area in Punjab province after Rajanpur. He recommended that Bhakkar and Mianwali districts should be included in proposed Siraiki province.
He said Siraiki region had badly been neglected in the past and there was high time to end the sense of deprivation among Siraiki people by creating Siraiki province.
Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar of Baluchistan Awami Party (BAP) said there was no harm to create new provinces on administrative and national identity basis in Pakistan. He said issue of Siraiki province was very strong and new province should be created to reduce people miseries.
He assured: “I and my party (BAP) will support Siraiki province in Senate and National Assembly.” He said that the creation of new province would prove good addition in Pakistan federation like Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan.
MNA Pakistan People Party(PPP)from Karachi Syed Agha Rafiullah said Siraiki province was mandatory for a strong and balance federation. He said PPP had supported the Siraiki province formation in the past and would continue in future too at every forum. He said creation of Siraiki province was peaceful movement so unnecessary hindrance in the creation of province was not justified.
Woman MNA of PPP Dr Shahid Rehmani said Siraiki region had badly been neglected since several decades and people were facing sense of deprivation. She said PTI leadership was not sincere to resolve burning issue of new province. She said PPP would continue to support new province issue in Senate and National Assembly.
PPP Leader Taj Haider said struggle of new province seemed to be becoming reality now as all political forces were ready to create Siraiki province. He said recommendations of parliamentary commission constituted by Pakistan People Party in 2012 could be improved further and Siraiki majority districts which were not included by commission in past could be added in new province.
He said there were no harm to name new province Siraikistan or Sareiki province and saying that it would not affect Pakistan. He said Pakistan federation would further get strengthen if new province was created.
Senior Journalist and Intellectual Rana Mehboob Akhter said Pakistan was a federation and new Siraiki province be included in the country as new federation unit. He said Siraiki people wanted their right, identity and province.
He urged the policy makers to connect local people with state for stronger federation.
Senior Journalist Nazeer Leghari said Siraiki people wanted separate province on the basis of language, identity, culture and civilization. He said Siraiki province must be created in Siraiki populated districts of where they were living since several centuries.
President, Sareiki Awami Sangat Pakistan, Mushtaq Ahmed Faridi said new province should be created with the name of Siraiki province not with South Punjab.
Eminent journalist Shahid Jatoi stressed the need for creation of new Siraiki province comprising 21 districts of Punjab and two from Khyber Pakhunkhwa; otherwise, question of new province would remain unresolved.