Saraikistan

Saraikistan (سرائیکستان) is a proposed new province of Pakistan, comprising the areas with a majority of Saraiki speakers in the southern and western part of Punjab province.The proposed Saraikistan forms about 52 per cent of the total area and 32 per cent of the population of the Punjab province.[1]

Saraikistan map

The proposed territorial extent generally includes 24 districts of Punjab (Multan, Jhang, Okara, Lodhran, Khushab, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Khanewal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Pakpattan, Sargodha , Chiniot and Mianwali) and 2 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Dera Ismail Khan and Tank).[2][3]

Events

In 2012, Punjab Provincial Assembly and the National Assembly passed resolutions for the creation of new province in Punjab. These resolutions were supported by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PMLN) and was passed.[4]

In 2013 election the PPP tried to mobilize the Seraiki voters over the Saraikistan province creation. But they got only one National Assembly seat from the Seraikistan region.[5]

In the 2018 the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) promised to create a new province in South Punjab within the first 100 days of taking office, if they win.[6]PTI won the election and won 30 out of 50 seats of the National Assembly seats in South Punjab.[7] On August 15, 2018 the PTI MPA of Punjab Assembly, Mohsin Leghari tables a resolution for the creation of a new province in South Punjab.[8]

Geography

The Seraikistan Qaumi Council demanded the creation of Seraikistan province by merging 24 districts in South Punjab and 2 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts, there 70 percent of the people speaks Seraiki).

The Main Political parties PTI, PPP and PML(N) have difference on the geography of Seraikistan. The PPP supports the formation of the South province by merging 11 districts of Punjab and 2 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PTI supports the formation of the South Punjab province by merging 11 districts South Punjab only. The PML(N) supports the formation of two provinces in South Punjab -the Bahawalpur Province and another South Punjab province containing Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan divisions.[9]

See also

References
  1. "South Punjab: larger in size, less in population". Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. "A province for Seraikis". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. Rahman 1995, p. 4.
  4. "What lies behind demands for a separate province in south Punjab". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  5. "What lies behind demands for a separate province in south Punjab". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  6. "A province for Seraikis". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  7. "A province in the making". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  8. "What lies behind demands for a separate province in south Punjab". Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. "A province for Seraikis". Retrieved 16 April 2020.

Bibliography


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