JPSM joins PTI, claims Qureshi

MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that dialogue between PTI and Janoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaz (JPSM) has been successfully held and finally the JPSM has joined the PTI.

Talking to The News here on Tuesday, he said all JPSM lawmakers would contest on the electoral symbol of ‘Bat’ in the next general elections. He said a Memorandum of Understanding had been developed between both the parties. PTI chairman Imran Khan and JPSM leadership would have to sign the MoU, he said.

He said the party chairman had assigned him initiating dialogues with the JPSM leadership to discuss possibilities of creation of the province. Qureshi had met with the JPSM leadership, including Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and Mir Bulkh Sher Mazari. A number of discussion sessions were held between him and the JPSM leadership. The PTI leader has convinced the JPSM leadership for creation of the south Punjab province. He also clarified that the JPSM leadership had tested the PML-N and the PPP and both the parties were not sincere with the creation of province.

He said the PPP had politicised the demand for south Punjab province and avoided taking practical measures in this regard. The PML-N has deprived the people of this remote region from their due rights and development, and divided the whole movement into Bahawalpur and south Punjab provinces, he alleged.

“Our party is the only one which is serious in creation of south Punjab province and also included the issue in its manifesto. The PTI has decided merger of Fata into Khyber Pakthunkhwa province and division of Punjab into two provinces to end south Punjab people deprivations and injustice. The new province will help resolve people’s problems at their doorsteps. It will strengthen the Federation,” he added. He said the JPSM leadership had complained about the discriminatory and biased attitude of the PML-N leadership, which finally forced them to quit the party.

Qureshi said people living in 11 districts of Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions should be given their identity right. He said the JPSM leadership would be given due respect and protocol in the party.

Meanwhile, Janoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaz (JPSM) additional secretary general and MNA, Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry said the JPSM had still not decided joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. He said the JPSM would decide joining the PTI after meeting Imran Khan. “We are in process of dialogue with the PTI and still not decided joining it,” he added.