BAHAWALPUR: Federal Minister for National Food Security Tariq Bashir Cheema has said he parted ways with the last government and exercised his right to vote in favour of the PDM’s no-trust motion as Imran Khan failed to honour the commitment he had made with him regarding the restoration of Bahawalpur province.

Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference at his residence here on Tuesday, Cheema claimed that he had been taking a stand for restoration of defunct province, which was the core issue of the people of Bahawalpur.

He claimed that former premier had repeatedly pledged to him to meet the demand (of Bahawalpur province) first and then decide about the fate of ‘south Punjab province’.

He claimed that even when the former government moved the South Punjab Bill in the National Assembly at the fag end of its rule, he told the PTI leadership that he would not compromise on the demand and on being denied he resigned from the ministry declaring he won’t support Imran against the no-confidence motion.

Says nobody pressurised him to support no-trust move against Imran

Mr Cheema said so far he did not take up the Bahawalpur province issue with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with whom he shook hand on the day of voting on the no-trust motion after some 20 years.

He said he had expectations from the new premier Shehbaz Sharif as the PML-N, during the previous years, had adopted a resolution on the restoration of Bahawalpur province in the Punjab Assembly.

He hoped Shehbaz government would take measures to declare Bahawalpur a province in accordance with its past commitment, clarifying he was not against creation of south Punjab province.

He added that no politician had ever demanded south Punjab province before 1985, while the demand for the restoration of Bahawalpur province was long-standing, for which his elders had also offered sacrifices.

Cheema condemned “torture” of Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in the Punjab Assembly and regretted the division in the PML-Q, hoping an early “patch-up” with in the party.

He said PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was aware of his stance against Imran Khan and claimed that nobody pressurised him to vote against former premier. He said he would contest the next election on the PML-Q platform and criticised Imran Khan for unprecedented price-hike during his tenure.

He said inflation was also a big challenge for the new government, demanding relief for the people, adding that particularly the shortage of diesel be overcome.

Mr Cheema said on his demand, irrigation department secretary ordered release of 1,000 cusecs from the Mangla Dam for Bahawalpur canals, adding the water would reach there within three to four days for cotton sowing.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2022