AHMEDPUR EAST - The Bahawalpur National Awami Party activists on Thursday burnt effigy of Prime Minister Gilani at Chowk Farid Gate Bahawalpur on the eve of his arrival here.
Hundreds of BNAP activists headed by Central Secretary Information Javed Khan Dauletzai and other leaders Khalid Mehmood, Taimoor Sameen Khan and Qari Ishtiaq Ahmed took out a rally from the BNAP central office Baldia Chowk to Farid Gate. s
The protesters were carrying black flags and shouting slogans against the prime minister’s statement against restoration of Bahawalpur province. They staged a sit-in at Chowk Farid Gate and vowed to continue their struggle for the restoration of Bahawalpur province under the leadership of Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi. A heavy contingent of police was deployed to avoid any untoward incident. After burning the effigy, BNAP activists dispersed peacefully.
Separately, the lawyers across the three districts continued their boycott of legal proceedings in courts for second consecutive day for restoration of Bahawalpur province on the arrival of Premier Gilani at Islamia University of Bahawalpur.
Meanwhile, members of District Bar Association Bahawalpur led by DBA Vice President Syed Hashim Raza and General Secretary Ayaz Kullyar took out a rally from the district courts which was stopped by Police at DCO Chowk near the university. The lawyers were wearing the black ribbons on their arms and carrying black flags. A scuffle between police and lawyers took place at DCO Chowk where Syed Hashim Raza and other district bar leaders demanded the restoration of Bahawalpur province immediately. Speakers severely condemned Premier Gilani’s statement about Bahawalpur merger in proposed Seraiki province and categorically stated that Bahawalpur would never become a part of Seraikistan.
“We had a separate identity,” they maintained. The leaders announced to continue their struggle for Bahawalpur province and said they were ready for a long march towards Prime Minister House. They also staged a sit in as a mark of protest against the premier’s remarks for Bahawalpur province.