ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Three months after its failure to get the dual nationality bill passed by the Senate due to lack of the two-thirds majority, the PPP-led coalition government is gearing up to make an attempt next week to get a bill seeking creation of the south Punjab province adopted by the upper house of parliament.

Sources told Dawn on Saturday that the PPP leadership at a recent meeting held at the Presidency had decided to bring the bill on the new province for voting in the Senate during the ongoing session, expecting that the move would leave the opposition PML-N party in isolation.

“Since Monday is a private members day, the government is considering tabling the bill on Tuesday,” said a source privy to the development.

“Yes, the PPP has decided to put the bill on new province to vote during the ongoing Senate session,” Senator Farhatullah Babar confirmed to Dawn. Mr Babar heads the parliamentary commission that has drafted the 24th Constitution Amendment Bill seeking the creation of Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab province.

Mr Babar, who is also spokesman for President Asif Ali Zardari, was hopeful that the government would succeed in getting the bill passed from the Senate. He admitted that the government might not be able to get it passed from the National Assembly.