MUZAFFARGARH: Three more ruling party MPAs joined the Janoobi Punjab Suba Mahaz (JPSM) on Thursday.

MPAs Mian Alamdar Abbas Qureshi (PP-255), Malik Murtaza Raheem Khar (PP-253) and Khan Mohammad Jatoi (PP-259) made the announcement at a gathering at Chowk Sarwar Shaheed.

Mr Qureshi said since the PML-N leadership had ignored the Seraiki area, the front was required to solve local problems.

Sources said PML-N MNA Sultan Hinjra (NA-176) would hold a press conference on Saturday to say goodbye to the ruling party.If this happens, Muzaffargarh district will be without any PML-N MNA. Of four MNAs and 11 MPAs from the district, only two MPAs - Haroon Bukhari and Hammad Nawaz Tippu - are still with the PML-N.

At the Chowk Sarwar Shaheed gathering, Naveed Yousfi, chairman of Kalabagh Dam Banao Tehreek, said that the JPSM would ensure the construction of Kalabagh Dam. MPA Murtaza Khar said that they realised PML-N’s lack of interest in the Seraiki Suba very late.

He said the front would launch a struggle to get a separate province for south Punjab. He said the PML-N leadership had spent billions on metro and other mega projects in Lahore while there was no mega project for south Punjab district.

Sources said another PML-N MPA, Qaswar Langrial, had also decided to say good-bye to the PML-N as he was interested in contesting election for a National Assembly seat against MNA Jamshed Dasti. Mr Langrial said he would not be part of the JPSM but he would leave the PML-N.

Those who have ditched the PML-N for the JPSM also include MNA Ashiq Gopang, MNA Haroon Bukhari and MPA Zeeshan Gurmani.

JPSM MNAs Rana Qasim Noon, Tahir Iqbal and Basit Bukhari with other MPAs were present at the gathering. Local poets and singers performed at the ceremony eulogising the south Punjab province mission.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2018