No decision yet on name of new province: Babar

ISLAMABAD: PML-Q Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that the name of new province would be ‘Bahawalpur Southern Punjab’; however, the chairman of the commission, formed for the creation of new provinces, Farhatullah Babar said that no final decision have been taken so far on the issue.

A meeting of the commission was held under the chair of Farhatullah Babar here on Thursday where 14 senators and member national assemblies (MNAs) belong to Bahwalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan were also present.

Talking to media following the meeting, PML-Q Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that the commission has reached the consensus that the name of new province would be ‘Bahawalpur Southern Province.’

He said that the commission also accepted the advice given by PML-Q that Mianwali and Bhakkar should also be made part of the new province.

Meanwhile, Farhatullah Babar said that the senators and MNAs presented their recommendations regarding name of the new province, boundaries and its provincial capital, adding that talks are still in progress on the issues.

Babar also told media that there are seven or eight amendments needed in the constitution on the issue of formation of new province.

Earlier, Mehmood Hayat Khan boycotted the commission meeting, saying that people belonged to Southern Punjab should be given its representation than the settlers there.

Sources said that PML-Q’s MNA Khwaja Shiraz protested during the meeting and said that the division of Chashma, Trimmu and Jinnah Barrage would not be accepted.

Next meeting of the commission would be held on Saturday.