BAHAWALPUR
The PTI and PAT sit-ins at Islamabad are the beginning of the end of anti-Bahawalpur province forces which have deprived the local people of their rights, said the central leader of a Bahawalpur province movement here on Thursday.
Qari Monas Baloch in a meeting of the leaders and workers of the United Movement for the Restoration of the Provincial Status of Bahawalpur remarked that Pakistan was established for the public welfare and national development. But, he added, the power-mongers had totally changed the system while the politicians had started using it for personal gains. However, the public rights were totally denied, he added.
He said, “Political jugglers were making efforts to damage the cause of restoration but we would never compromise on our principles. The formation of more provinces would be better for the nation to make the country strong and stable.”
He demanded early action over the Indian water terrorism as it had control over four rivers Sutlej, Biyas, Ravi and Chenab and deprived us of water badly damaging our agriculture and national economy.
Meanwhile, PTI Bahawalpur Vice President Abbas Raza said that time had changed and now the people could not be denied their rights. Thus, he said, the rulers should mend their ways as the struggle of PTI and PAT cannot be pressed forcibly through mean tactics.
He remarked that the people and the media had become more knowledgeable, active and responsible as the era of last century was over when one could be hoodwinked easily through false claims. He said that massive rigging in the last year’s elections was the major complaint which was not heard by the government. It forced the PTI leadership to start the movement, he added and said that the struggle was simply for fair system of elections, public rights and corruption-free society to establish rule of law and real democracy.
He said that differences were the sign of democracy. He alleged that the PML-N was from the remains of dictatorship and the party leadership had not yet been come out of that influence. He urged the N leadership to change its approach according to the public aspirations. He expressed grave concern that democracy had become a joke in the country and nobody ever bothered to develop the system on the right lines.
Meanwhile, social circles of the city questioned the credibility and worth of the outcome of the joint session of the parliament as the proceeding were going on and confusing the people as well as causing further deterioration of the situation. They said the non-serious way would create more confusion and differences. They expressed concern over allegations leveled by the parliamentarians on each other, They added that parliamentarian should not take anything personally and avoid unnecessary criticism to twist the facts for their personal interests on the floor of the House.
They said that the media reports particularly of Mujeebur Rehman and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s statements could prove the facts of 1970-71 situation wherein the country was divided. They demanded that the government and the protesters not to further weaken the country rather make joint efforts to avert anti-Pakistan conspiracies.