Major setback to PML-N as eight members part ways, demand separate province

Pakistan Muslim League (N) suffered a major setback as its eight lawmakers from South Punjab parted ways with the party, resigned as member parliament and demanded separate province at a joint press conference.

Speaking to journalists, Khusro Bakhtiar, a PML-N leader from South Punjab flanked by like-minded lawmakers demanded a new province "for the security of the future of the children of south Punjab."

This announcement comes at a time when the PML-N government finds itself facing multiple crises. 

Bakhtiar, who is a member of the National Assembly from a PML-N seat, has previously served as minister of state for foreign affairs. Along with him, Tahir Iqbal (MNA from Vehari), Rana Muhammad Qasim (MNA from Multan), Basit Bukhari (MNA from Muzaffargarh), Sardar Dareshak and Saleemullah Chauhdry were present in the press conference.

"We have a single point agenda: the creation of a new province in south Punjab," Bakhtiar said while announcing that he, along with the other like-minded lawmakers, would be initiating the 'South Punjab Front' movement.

"The size of South Punjab is almost the same as Khyber Pashtunkhawa. We have 46 MNAs in the [National] Assembly at the moment and yet they gave us just one seat in Senate."

“The purpose of the press conference is to announce the movement Junoobi Punjab Suba Mahaaz to create a new province,” Khusro Bakhtiar said adding "former acting prime minister Balakh Sher Mazari will lead us."

During the press conference, it was announced that a total of six MNAs and two MPAs would be defecting from the PML-N and resigning from their posts soon.

However, hours after the briefing, MNA Syed Muhammad Asghar said he would not be resigning from his seat or leaving the party, but would continue to lend his support to the movement.

Reaction

In her reaction to the development, State Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb called the party deserters as 'compulsive turncoats', she said that the people of Pakistan will reject them in the next polls.

State Minister for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry while reacting to the announcement by eight members about parting ways with the party said PML-N has no shortage of candidates. “We have three candidates for a single constituency. The party is not bothered by departure of anyone. None of them would be able to succeed in the elections.”

However, PTI spokesperson has welcomed the development and said that the recent development has proven that the PML-N's narrative is not even popular in their party folds.