AHMEDPUR EAST - After becoming Punjab governor and joining the PPP, Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood "reneged on his pledge" regarding restoration of Bahawalpur province and supported the proposal of Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab province, thereby causing protests mainly led by Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi across the region.
Addressing a press conference after the proposal made public, Mr Abbasi, the chairman of the Bahawalpur National Awami Party, strongly resisted the idea, and led a huge rally from Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq against it. The BNAP also organised a big public meeting at Chowk Farid Gate where Nawab Abbasi in the presence of thousands of people categorically declared that BJP province was not acceptable and reaffirmed his pledge to shed the last drop of his blood for the restoration of Bahawalpur province.
He alleged that both the PPP and the PML-N were hoodwinking the masses on the issue. He stated that the PPP did not honour the promise made by Benazir Bhutto in London with him. He said that the tsunami of people from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar was testifying their resentment against BJP province plan.
Likewise, former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani also staged a sit-in in different areas to vent his anger on the proposal of BJP province. During protests, Durrani alleged that Mr Makhdoom had sold himself at very cheap rate and accepted only two-month governorship by betraying the Bahawalpuries. Durrani earlier was eager to join the PML-N but due to the cold shoulder of PML-N leadership he went to Karachi to meet Pir Pagara and joined PML-F.
Meanwhile, the district bar associations of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and other tehsil bar associations also observed two-day strike as a protest against the proposed province. The lawyers demanded restoration of the former provincial status of Bahawalpur.
Earlier, the PML-N opposed the demand but when Nawab Abbasi organised a mammoth public meeting on April 14, 2010 to announce "Bahawalpur Declaration", the N League changed its stance on the restoration of Bahawalpur province and announced to support it to "gain popularity" in the region.
At first, the PPP adopted a resolution in the National Assembly for the creation of South Punjab Province and later, the PML-N and other parliamentary groups in the Punjab Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution for the restoration of former provincial status of Bahawalpur and creation of South Punjab province comprising Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan divisions. But when the federal government constituted the commission on creation of new province, the PML-N prohibited its members from participating in the commission's proceedings.
In the last month, as the governor and former prime minister during a public meeting talked about the formation of proposed South Punjab province and the PML-N stood up against the PPP's strategy and directed its legislators and party leaders to take out rallies and stage sit-ins across Bahawalpur region.
Meanwhile, the federal government proposed the name of Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab and it was also supported by the Jamaat-e-Islami, but Nawab categorically stated that he would accept no government offer till the restoration of former Bahawalpur province.
As per a survey, 85 percent Bahawaluries said that both the mainstream political parties were using the new provinces issue for scoring points and both were not sincere to the people of Bahawalpur. However, It is expected that the PPP will win majority of seats in Rahim Yar Khan district and the PML-N may become a big looser in Rahim Yar Khan district while the PPP in Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts is in the weakest position now-a-days.
The opposition to Bahawalpur province restoration would badly damage the candidature of PPP in the forthcoming polls. Seraiki, Urdu and Punjabi speaking inhabitants of Bahawalpur region have urged both President Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to make a consensus on the issue and create new provinces on administrative basis.