JPSM merges with PTI

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers from South Punjab, who recently parted ways with the ruling party, joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday as the PTI chief Imran Khan promised to make South Punjab a separate province within 100 days of forming government.

The widely-speculated announcement came as Khusro Bakhtiar, who heads the group of national and provincial lawmakers, Janoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaz (JPSM), held a press conference along with Imran Khan here. At his massively attended Minar-e-Pakistan public meeting on April 29, Imran had promised to make South Punjab a separate province, which was reiterated by Khusro Bakhtiar at the news conference.

During the media conference, Imran Khan hit out at the PML-N leadership and retorted that if ‘aliens’ were to be traced, then Asghar Khan case should be opened to find out who was who was ‘Ladla’ and who got what.

“From this case, it will also be known as to how much Javed Hashmi had received.

"Look at the case and you will find out how the poor Mian Sahab received Rs3.5 million and it is the case that will also show you who the favourite (Ladla) is," he contended.

Imran said he might be new to politics, as compared to many others, but the ‘newcomers’ would remember that while many other parties made commitments, but reneged on this, but he fully supported a separate South Punjab province for it was extremely difficult to manage large units.

He noted that the 11-point agenda, he announced recently in Lahore, included eighth point that South Punjab would be made a province on administrative basis.

PTI chairman went on to add that even a separate province was not enough and they would form a committee to solve issues in the region.

“I have been to Switzerland and people are the happiest there because they have 25 cantonments for a population, which is less than that of Lahore,” he said, adding, “Each canton makes their own decisions after hearing the demands of their people."

Imran noted that people from cities across Punjab were shifting to Lahore and doing business there because the government only invested there; even close to Raiwind. The PTI chairman said that political parties had been making promises for years but never fulfilled them. He said some even came into power thrice and still say “if they get one more chance they will make a Naya Pakistan”.

He believed that other cities in the province were suffering and lagging behind because of focus of investment in Lahore and there was a sense of deprivation in South Punjab.

At the same time, the PTI chief reiterated his demand of merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and added that they would also expedite the merger.

He insisted that inception of local government system was crucial for the tribal region, as its governance system was destroyed over the years due to the militancy and war on terror.

“They did not want to become a part of KP earlier but they faced a lot of difficulties and became non-people because of the war and now 90 percent of them demand merger with KP," the PTI chief said.

"Corruption happens if there is no local government system as nexuses are formed. A genuinely-empowered local government system is the answer for the people of Pakistan," he maintained.

Responding to questions, he said that they had no plans of joining hands with any political party. However, he maintained that the PTI would only have an alliance with Maulana Samiul Haq in KP.

Speaking on the occasion, Khusro Bakhtiar said they had presented their case for a separate province on last month and Imran Khan while presenting his 11-point agenda mentioned in his eighth point that South Punjab would be made a separate province.

He lamented that despite promises, the PML-N did not listen to their demands for a separate province, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) also raised the slogan for a separate South Punjab province but failed to fulfil its promise.

Khusro Bakhtiar said that South Punjab had been home to his family for nearly 800 years and faced injustices.

Before the news conference, the new comers met Imran Khan at his Banigala residence. They included Khusro Bakhtiar, Balakh Sher Mazari, Nasrullah Dareshak and Tahir Bashir Cheema. Those who became part of the PTI include Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, Rana Qasim Noon, Basit Bokhari, Samiullah Chaudhry, Asghar Ali Shah and Iftikhar Hussain Gillani.