AHMEDPUR EAST - Bahawalpur National Awami Party (BNAP) Chief Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi has appreciated the intention behind the passage of resolution for the restoration of the former provincial status of Bahawalpur in Punjab Assembly. However, he expressed his apprehensions as many resolutions on important national issues were passed by the Parliament in past but had not been implemented in the letter and spirit so far.
BNAP Chief Nawab Sajahuddin expressed the views while responding queries of a group of newsmen at the party secretariat here at Mubarak Mahal from Lahore on the telephone on Thursday. The BNAP chief stated that Bahawalpuries had exhibited a lot of patience so far but now they want end to their exploitation at every cost. Hence more than 12.5 million people of Bahawalpur region could be satisfied only through the restoration of former Bahawalpur Province,” he cautioned.
Nawab Salahuddin warned that if Bahawalpur province was not restored then it would unleash such a chaotic situation that would be unmanageable by the ruling elite. The BNAP Chief claimed that it was impossible and unbecoming to him that the youth of Bahawalpur remained unemployed despite acquiring professional degrees. “I am here to lead them,” he added.
He told the newsmen that all the governments and assemblies since 1970 were illegal and unconstitutional as they had not given provincial status to Bahawalpur violating an accord with founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He pointed out that the federation and Quaid-e-Azam had given protection to the provincial status of Bahawalpur.
The BNAP Quaid categorically stated that that if it deemed necessary, then the people of Bahawalpur would close the rail and road links and he would himself lead this movement even to block the water supply to the rest of country at Head Punjnad. Nawab Slahuddin alleged that people of Bahawalpur region were deprived of their right in all spheres of life since the merger of former Bahawalpur State in One Unit, adding that gone were the era of political slogan and empty gesture and nothing could stop their movement as people from all the languages, races and tribes had joined the BNAP. He said that all and sundry would finally had to join the movement and those who opposed the movement would be certified their political demise and he himself would make sure to happen the same.
Nawab Salahuddin said that participation of millions of people in the public gatherings was referendum for Bahawalpur Province and this was also an oath to stay with the movement till Bahawalpur gets the provincial status. He announced to materialise the dreams of Nawab Sadiq Mohammad Khan Abbasi, soon after the restoration of Bahawalpur Province.
Earlier, hundreds of people from every nook and corner of Bahawalpur arrived at his residence Sadiq Garh Palace Dera Nawab Sahib to greet Nawab Abbasi on the passage of Bahawalpur Province resolution in Punjab Assembly. The BNAP chief also addressed them at the party secretariat.