Cholistan land: Gilani slammed for backing Zardari

Former Information Minister, Senator Mohammed Ali Durrani on Monday has alleged that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani is supporting Zardari in his bid to usurp 6.4 million acres of Cholistan land in the name of Seraiki province.
Durrani warned President Zardari against treading the path of ex-dictator Yahya Khan by denying restoration of Bahawalpur province. Talking to newsmen here on Monday Durrani said that Gilani and some influential landlords were planning to capture the rich lands of Bahawalpur, including the 6,400,000 acres of Cholistan area, in the name of a Seraiki province.
Durrani said they would not let Bahawalpur turn into "a hunting ground" for some landlords from Multan and DG Khan, who had been given thousands of acres of land during the British Raj.
"Now, after looting the poor people of Multan and DG Khan, some landlords from the PML-Q, who are not acceptable to President Zardari, are following a plan prepared by Gilani to appease Zardari by supporting his bid to usurp the 64 lakh acres of Cholistan land in the name of Seraiki province, but they don't know the resilience of the people of Bahawalpur," he remarked.
Durrani, who is also the chief of Muttahida Mahaz Bahawalpur, advised the prime minister to focus on resolving the problems of the country rather than dreaming to be chief minister of Seraiki province. "This is also a test case for the PML-Q leadership and let us see whether they opt to be part of a conspiracy hatched by some landlords against the people of Bahawalpur, or they support the cause of Bahawalpur province. But, let me warn all the conspirators that any bid to ignore the cause of Bahawalpur province would be resisted with force and it would prove to be the last nail in their political coffin," he asserted.
"Let me tell you that behind the scenes consultations have ended and a national government would soon be announced. We hope that the national government would announce the restoration of Bahawalpur province in line with the commitment made by father of the nation," he said.