LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reiterated its demand on Sunday for the provision of basic facilities for the people of southern parts of Punjab, urging the government to prioritise amenities over projects like metro service.
A delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday met the leadership of South Punjab Front (SPF) who have defected from ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as part of their demand to have a separate province.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi formally invited the leaders of SPF in PTI, challenging the ruling party to hold a referendum on the matter. After the meeting, leaders of both sides addressed a joint press conference.
Talking to media, Qureshi said that due to lack of interest of the ruling elite, a feeling of deprivation has prevailed in the people of in southern Punjab during the last decade. “South Punjab province will strengthen the federation,” he added.
Qureshi asked where the separate secretariat for southern Punjab was as announced by the incumbent government.
“There is a wide difference between the allocation and distribution of resources,” Shah Mehmood said adding that the region was kept backward deliberately by depriving it of the resources.
Moreover, the party condemned the attack on the residence of SC judge Justice Ijazul Ahsan and demanded to bring the culprits to book.
Last Monday, eight PML-N parliamentarians, six MNAs and 2 MPAs, left the party and announced the launch of a massive movement for separate South Punjab province.
PTI has supported the demand of a new province, which has come as a major blow for PML-N.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari stated that issues of South Punjab and Bahawalpur will be included in the manifesto of PML-N in next general elections.
Laghari, who hails from South Punjab, said some of their fellows have resigned in protest but PML-N will handle this political stunt in a positive manner as the development of South Punjab has always been the main agenda of the ruling party.
Furthermore, on Saturday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that all parties should sit together and decide on calls for new provinces.
