PML-N introduces bill: Creation of Janubi Punjab, Bahawalpur 'provinces' sought

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Tuesday introduced "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019" on private members' day of the National Assembly for creating new provinces of Bahawalpur and Janubi Punjab in the country. As many as nine bills were introduced on private members' day in the Lower House of the Parliament. However, the National Assembly has rejected "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 184)" seeking the review of judgements passed by larger benches of the Supreme Court.
The bills including 'The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2019, The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2019, The Chamber of Agriculture Bill, 2019, The Eradication of Riba Bill, 2019, The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2019, The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 51 and 106), the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and The Prohibition of Forced Religious Conversion Bill, 2019' were introduced in the Lower House of the Parliament.
Former Punjab law minister of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Rana Sanaullah Khan, introduced "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019" in the House.
Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr Muhammad Farogh Naseem did not oppose the bill and Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri referred it to NA Standing Committee on Law and Justice for further deliberations.
According to statement of the bill, the provincial assembly of the Punjab had passed two resolutions on 9th May, 2012 for the restoration of the status of State of Bahawalpur and creation of a new province of Janubi Punjab. The resolutions were supported by members from political parties on both sides of the House.
Rana Sanaullah said that Punjab Assembly had already passed resolutions for creation of Bahawalpur and Janubi Punjab provinces. He said that the provinces should be created on the basis of administration and not on the basis of ethnic and linguistic grounds. He said that a national commission should be established for creation of new provinces.
Syed Naveed Qamar of PPP said that his party supports new provinces but its stance is to create only Janubi Punjab (South Punjab) province in Punjab and not Bahawalpur province. He said that, however, the bill should be referred to the standing committee for further deliberations.
Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that his party supports the bill in principle but that it wants the creation of only southern Punjab province. He said that the government would set up the South Punjab Civil Secretariat in the first week of July.
He said, "It is a conspiracy of PML-N to support creation of two new provinces instead of creation of Janubi Punjab province."
Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema, who belongs to the PML-Q, said: "After 'Takht-i-Lahore', we don't want now to become the servants of 'Takht-i-Multan'."
While fully supporting the Bill of PML-N, he said, "We do not want to live with the province Janubi Punjab. We want restoration of the status of State of Bahawalpur. We have no objection if they want another separate Janubi Punjab province."
The speaker subsequently sent the bill to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice for further discussion.
National Assembly has rejected "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeking the review of judgements passed by larger benches of the Supreme Court.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MNA Aliya Kamran, who moved the bill, argued that citizens should have the right to file an appeal against a verdict issued by an apex court's larger bench.
Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Naseem opposed the bill and said that it is tantamount to politicising the court.
"We do not want to make our courts political. We should let them perform their duties in an appropriate manner," he said while opposing the bill.