KARACHI, Feb 10: Rejecting the government’s plans to carve out a new province from Punjab, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional chief Pir Pagara asked the PPP-led coalition on Sunday to issue a notification for the restoration of Bahawalpur province. “Why the PPP government did not think of creating new provinces in its five-year rule? If the government is sincere in creating new provinces then why it does not issue a notification for the restoration of Bahawalpur province,” the PML-F chief said at a press conference after a meeting of his party’s central council.

The meeting chaired by Pir Pagara unanimously passed a resolution demanding the restoration of Bahawalpur province in accordance with a resolution of the Punjab Assembly.

Terming the PPP government’s move to create the new province “a policy to divide and rule”, the party said it would create differences between people speaking different languages, which could be dangerous for the integrity of the country.

It also demanded setting up of a caretaker government by taking every small and big party on board and appointment of apolitical governors for holding free and transparent elections in the country. It also urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to stop massive appointments and release of development funds on political grounds.

Rejecting the Sindh People’s Local Government Act, 2012, the PML-F demanded through another resolution a new law with consensus of all political parties in Sindh.

In reply to a question, Pir Pagara said the PML-F would contest elections by forming an electoral alliance with likeminded and anti-PPP parties.

He asked party activists to prepare for the coming elections.

He said that conspiracies were being hatched to postpone the general election, but after the Raiwind conference of opposition parties he was 50 per cent convinced that the country was heading towards elections.

When his attention was drawn towards targeted killings in Karachi, he said the deteriorating situation in the city, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan indicated that there would be difficulties in carrying out election campaigns in the coming election.

He said his party was in touch with all other religious and political parties, except the PPP and its allies.

He dispelled the impression that after a successful public meeting in Hyderabad his party’s activities had slowed down.

He said the party was busy in formulating a new manifesto in which agriculture, rights of women, health, education and other issues were given importance.