MULTAN, May 15 (APP)::Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday sought cooperation from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML) in the creation of South Punjab province.
Addressing a press conference here at Circuit house, he said
that a good number of people from PML-N wanted
to create South Punjab province.
However, some friends from the PML-N who were still entangled in the bill on Bahawalpur province, presented during the past regime, he said.
Qureshi urged them to review their decision and cooperate with the incumbent government for the creation of south Punjab province.How, is it possible to make Bahawalpur as a province, which consists of only three districts? Qureshi posed a question and stated that the PML-N should apt practical approach in this regard.
For creation of south Punjab province, two third majority
was required, Qureshi said and added that PPP decided to extend
cooperation for the province.
The PTI contacted PPP and its leadership hinted at positively, he revealed.
In the coming session, the PTI leaders would meet Khursheed
Shah, Naveed Qamar and Raja Pervez Ashraf to discus south Punjab
province, he said.
Qureshi said that they would try their best to pursue other
political parties including PML-N to create a consensus on South
Punjab province which would strengthen federation further.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi also thanked Federal Law Minister Farogh
Naseem, Planning Minister Khusro Bukhtiar, Mir Balekh Sher Mazari, Nasrullah Dareshak, Rana Qasim Noon, Samiul Hassan Gilani, Pir
Zahoor Hussain Qureshi and others for carrying out consultancy
in the preparation of bill and cooperation towards the south Punjab province.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi informed that amendments
in some articles of the constitution including articles 1, 51, 59,
106, 198, and 218 would be required for south Punjab province. The
amendments in some clauses of these articles will help address legal issues and explain name of the province, objectives and reason for the new province, members for senate, number of provincial assembly seats, establishment of separate High Court and number of provinces in the country.
The Foreign Minister also thanked Chief Minister Punjab Usman
Buzdar for earmarking funds in the upcoming budget for south Punjab secretariat.
To a query about the establishment of south Punjab secretariat,
Qureshi observed that the site for secretariat would soon be discussed.
