The Muttahida Mahaz Bahawalpur (MMB) has rejected the recommendations of the parliamentary commission on new provinces on Sunday, calling it a “puppet commission” and announcing to launch protests against its decision.
Former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, chief of ‘United Front Bahawalpur’ (MMB), announced the decision in a press conference flanked by leaders and notables from all ranks of society, including lawyers, traders, political parties, civil society, women, youth and journalists of the region.
They later staged a sit-in to protest the recommendation of creation of ‘Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab’ (BJP) province instead of restoration of Bahawalpur as province.
“The commission’s decision is against constitution, a joke with the people of Bahawalpur and South Punjab and beyond the mandate given to the parliamentary commission, which on dictation of Gilani and Makhdom turned itself into a mere puppet commission.”
“We reject the proposal as it is against the wishes, aspiration and demands of the area and absolutely unacceptable for the masses,” Durrani said.
He pointed out that according to the recommendation, it would be a 750 kilometre-long province whose capital will be at a distance of 500kms from Mianwali, another vexatious and painful episode for the residents.
“It is worst example of exploitation of the people of the area by the ruling elite, feudals and landlords who want to pillage the resources of Bahawalpur and capture the 6.4 million acre land of Cholistan,” he lamented.
Durrani said the people would not abandon the constitutional, historical and legal right of Bahawalpur province and could not allow anyone to impose another LFO of Yahya Khan. The former minister said those who claimed that masses were the source of power had sold the rights of the people to feudal and landlords and betrayed them.
“We will not let anyone repeat the events of 1970s nor shall allow to use the issue for political bargain or as a tool to get some slots to opportunists,” he said.
The Bahawalpur High Court Bar Association president, women leader Abida Durrani, and traders’ leader Hafiz Younis also endorsed the demands and stance of MMB. Noted journalists of the area also announced their support for Bahawalpur province’s restoration.
