AHMEDPUR EAST - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday declared that he was not against the establishment of Bahawalpur province and alleged that vested interests were creating a rift among the people of South Punjab. PM Gilani suggested that Bahawalpur should be made the capital of the proposed new province to be consisted of three divisions of south Punjab to foil the conspiracies of some elements out to harm the unity and harmony among people of the region.
Talking to PPP legislators at VIP Lounge of Bahawalpur Airport, he warned the masses of south Punjab to wake up against the elements who had been plundering the resources of this backward region and hatching a conspiracy to push them back towards the colonial era.
The prime minister said that British rulers had set up administrative units to rule the inhabitants of Subcontinent .He stated that the PPP-led federal government restored superior judiciary in line with the wish of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who had announced to hoist national flag at the residence of deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan.
We not only reinstated the deposed judges of the superior judiciary but also sacrificed the lives of our workers for the supremacy of law,” he added. PM Gilani said that the PPP believed in the rule of law and its government had taken various measures in this regard. He claimed that the PPP government made record legislation over the past four years in the rule while the previous government, some of which having two third majority, could not carry out even necessary legislation. He said that President Asif Zardari had voluntarily delegated his powers to Prime Minister as per the party manifesto.
“We are the soldiers of Shaheed ZA Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto hence we will never bow down to anti-democratic force,” he declared and categorically stated that no dictation from anyone would be accepted on reopening of route for Nato supplies and only Parliament would decide the matter,” he maintained.
Earlier, PM Gilani met the delegation of High Court Bar Association Bahawalpur led by its President Mohammad Sharif Bhatti and General Secretary Aurangzeb. The lawyers, on the occasion, ruled out thr inclusion of Bahawalpur in Seraiki province and demanded immediate restoration of Bahawalpur province.
Meanwhile, PPP legislators Arif Aziz Sheikh and Shah Rukh Malik along with Hassan Askari Sheikh, Aamar Warran and other called on the prime minister at Bahawalpur Airport and apprised him of the problems of their respective areas. Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa, PPP President South Punjab Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Federal Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Natasha Azeem Daultana were also present on the occasion.