Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday said that Southern Punjab and Bahawalpur should be two separate provinces.
Speaking to the media alongside Chaudhry Nisar following a PML-N meeting, Shahbaz criticised the announcement for the formation of the Bahawalpur South Punjab province, terming it as a ploy to delay the upcoming general elections.
Chaudhry Nisar accused the ANP and MQM of dividing Punjab, adding that the PML-N would introduce a bill seeking the formation of Bahawalpur, Multan and Hazara provinces in the National Assembly.
On January 26, the Parliamentary Committee on new provinces met in Islamabad and recommended ‘Bahawalpur South Punjab’ as the name for a new province in Punjab. According to sources, the commission also finalised recommendations for constitutional amendments for making a new province in South Punjab.
Meanwhile protests have been held in Multan, Sargodha and Mianwail against the name and jurisdiction of the new province.