PPP in favour of new provinces: PM

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is in favour of creation of new provinces, including Saraiki province.

"Mr Chairman, I totally support new provinces. I am in full support of a new Saraiki province. If new provinces, including Saraiki province, are not created during my Premiership, then when will this happen. We should move resolution for new provinces. I asked Chief Whip Syed Khursheed Shah to discuss it with allied parties and move a resolution in the House," the Prime Minister said this while responding to a point of order of Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi of PML-N.

Gilani said that today creation of new Saraiki province is not only his demand but the natural right and demand of the people of southern Punjab. "How can we suppress the aspirations of the people?" he queried.

"The aspirations of the people were suppressed in the past, and we saw its result in the separation of East Pakistan. Pakistan will weaken if we do not give rights to the people, and it will become strong if we give them rights. The 1973 constitution has kept Pakistan's federating units united," he said.

The Prime Minister said that for this purpose a proper mechanism should be adopted. "Nobody can block the resolution as it is in accordance with the aspirations of the people," he said.

Gilani said the PPP is a federating party. And it exists in all the four provinces, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and FATA.

He categorically rejected accusations made by Mehtab Abbassi that the government was supporting creation of a province in southern Punjab to enable the Prime Minister's son to become chief minister. He termed these remarks highly objectionable, and registered his protest against them. The Prime Minister said his forefathers had struggled and contributed to the movement for an independent Pakistan and were companions of Quaid-e-Azam.

"If the Parliament has ensured the rights to Pukhtuns and the people of Gilgit and Baltistan and FATA then how is it possible that it will not give the south of Punjab its own identity," he said.

He expressed sorrow at Nawaz Sharif's statement that he would establish military courts in Karachi if he came to power, and said that there is no provision of military courts in a democratic system.  He said that rangers are already deployed in Karachi on the request of the provincial government to improve law and order.

The Prime Minister claimed that the government has implemented all resolutions with respect to Balochistan province except law and order situation which is a provincial subject. "We will also resolve this problem," he added.