News
Monday, April 25, 2011
Durrani warns Zardari against ‘Gilani’s trap’
* Ex information minister says some landlords planning to capture rich lands of Bahawalpur in name of Saraiki province
Staff Report
LAHORE: Former information minister Senator Mohammed Ali Durrani on Sunday warned President Asif Zardari against treading the path of ex-dictator Yahya Khan by denying restoration of Bahawalpur province.
Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club, Durrani said that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and some influential landlords were planning to capture the rich lands of Bahawalpur, including the 6,400,000 acres of Cholistan area, in the name of a Saraiki province. Durrani said they would not let Bahawalpur turn into “a hunting ground” for some landlords from Multan and DG Khan, who had been given thousands of acres of land during the British Raj.
“Now, after plundering the poor people of Multan and DG Khan, some landlords from the PML-Q —who are not acceptable to President Zardari— are following a plan prepared by Gilani to appease Zardari by supporting his bid to usurp the 64 lakh acres of Cholistan land in the name of Saraiki province, but they don’t know the resilience of the people of Bahawalpur,” he remarked. Senator Durrani, who is also the chief of Muttahida Mahaz Bahawalpur, advised the prime minister to focus on resolving the problems of the country rather than dreaming to be chief minister of Saraiki province.
“This is also a test case for the PML-Q leadership and let us see whether they opt to be a part of a conspiracy hatched by some landlords against the people of Bahawalpur, or they support the cause of Bahawalpur province. But, let me warn all the conspirators that any bid to ignore the cause of Bahawalpur province would be resisted with force and it would prove to be the last nail in their political coffin,” he asserted.
“Let me tell you that behind-the-scenes consultations have ended and a national government would soon be announced. We hope that the national government would announce the restoration of Bahawalpur province in line with the commitment made by father of the nation,” he said. “I warn those who are conspiring against the people of Bahawalpur to mend their ways or they should be ready to face the worst kind of resistance in country’s history from the ignored, abused and deprived people of Bahawalpur. We are appreciative of all those, including the media, who support our cause,” he said.
Durrani said chief of Bahawalpur Awami Party, Nawab Slahuddin Abbasi, has instructed him to convey this caution to the conspirators through media, adding that the government should at least give as much respect to the agreement made by Quaid-e-Azam as it gives to its deeds with the IMF or the World Bank. Asked whether he was opposed to the creation of a Saraiki province, Durrani said the people of Bahawalpur were supportive of any province that did not clash with their just demand of restoration of Bahawalpur province. We are not opposed to creation of a province comprising Multan and DG Khan divisions. But anyone dreaming to rule Bahawalpur in the name of Saraiki province should stop this nonsense,” warned Durrani.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk