News
Friday, May 04, 2012
PPP launches bid for ‘Southern Punjab’* NA passes resolution which calls for creation of ‘Southern Punjab’ from present province of Punjab
* Asks Punjab Assembly to present bill in this regard
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution tabled by he Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) calling for the creation of southern Punjab province in the present province of Punjab.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek presented the resolution in the House as the legislators from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) staged a strong protest against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, raising full-throated slogans against him and the government. Despite the protest and shouting by the PML-N, treasury side disposed of the question hour, and as soon as it was over it brought two resolutions – the other in support of PM Gilani – for voting that were not on the order of the day. Both the resolutions were passed with thumping majority of the ruling alliance.
“The House hereby resolves that in order to address the grievances and to secure the political administrative and economic interests of the people in the southern region of the province of the Punjab and to empower them in this regard, it is expedient that a new province to be known as Province of Janoobi Punjab be created from the present province of the Punjab,” said the resolution read out by the law minister.
It called upon the Punjab Assembly to present a bill to amend the constitution in accordance with Article 239 (4), which would have the effect of altering the limits of province of Punjab, thereby creating the province of southern Punjab. The resolution said that the creation of southern Punjab province was aimed at addressing the grievances and to secure political, administrative and economic interests of the people of the southern region of Punjab.
Prime Minister Gilani congratulated President Asif Zardari, allied parties’ leadership and parliament on the passage of the resolution on southern Punjab province. He said it was a longstanding demand of the people of southern Punjab. Meanwhile, Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza advised the protesting members of the PML-N not to revive unethical traditions in parliament. “I wish we do not revive unethical traditions in the House. We should not undermine the supremacy of parliament that has been established during last four and half years,” she told the opposition members chanting slogans.
The speaker repeatedly asked the protesting opposition members to observe parliament’s decorum and termed their behaviour “unfortunate”.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk