FM says PTI received positive response from PPP for South Punjab's creation

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has responded positively to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) call for the formation of South Punjab province.

Addressing a press conference, the foreign minister said that he had approached the PPP's parliamentarian leader and the initial response by the party was positive. He continued that he approached the PPP since it also supports demand for the formation of a new province in Punjab.

The minister said that in the next meeting he will have a discussion with PPP's Khursheed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar and Raja Pervez Ashraf regarding the new province. He said PTI has also decided to approach other parties and get their consensus.

Qureshi said that according to his knowledge, there were some members of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz,who were in support of the creation, while there were also members who were not in favor of the creation of South Punjab province.

He hoped that the opposition will support the PTI bill and help in the creation of the new province. The minister further said that under this amendment, South Punjab will comprise of Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan Divisions. The seats of South Punjab Assembly will be 120, he added.

The minister also said that the new province will also have its own high court beside a share of seats in Senate.