MULTAN: Terming the recent census findings “politically motivated and economically biased”, Seraiki nationalists have expressed their doubts over the provisional results and viewed them in favour of upper Punjab cities including Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad.

In view of the reports about increase in cities’ population, Seraiki intellectual Dr Ahsan Wagha said it was a common rule of economics that migration of the population flowed in the direction of resources and wealth.

Given the concentration of resources and wealth in Lahore, people from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and from parts of the Seraiki region as well as from nearby towns were flocking to Lahore in large numbers, observed Dr Wagha.

He said that census results could not be fabricated during data collection, and tampering can only take place during the tabulation phase in the census offices.

“One can sensibly argue that census data cannot be manipulated in the field but in the census commissioners’ offices. For instance, the selection of blocks for filling small count forms — including column of language/mother tongue — was defrauded in the last census,” Mr Wagha claimed.

Having no separate provincial status, the Seraikis had to plead for a share in central Punjab’s budget and resources but when it came to contributing to provincial economy, the same Seraiki segment became a part of the region by default, he said.

He remarked that Seraikis were more “alert” and “sensitive” about census like the Sindhi population. The reason the Seraikis wanted their population count to be recorded fairly and accurately, he said, was that the results could help strengthen their case for a Seraiki province.

Seraiki National Congress chairman Mansoor Karim Sial said that only equal opportunities could lead to equal population distribution.

“Either the population is very high or it is very low. Imbalanced population growth is not good for the province,” he said, adding that although only partial results were announced, they appeared to be unconvincing.

Another Seraiki nationalist, journalist and writer, Mazhar Arif termed the census results “political”. He said the number of seats for Seraikis in the provincial and national assemblies would almost remain the same, whereas seats from upper Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad, would be increased.

“Ultimately, the representation ratio of the Seraiki region will decrease even further,” regretted Mr Arif.

Pakistan Seraiki Party’s Ustad Mehmood Nizami echoed similar sentiments, saying that the entire census process was doubtful and politically motivated.

“The purpose behind producing results in upper Punjab’s favour is to deprive the Seraiki region from its due share in development funds and its representation in assemblies,” he said.

Mr Nizami felt that the actual findings of the census were being hidden, and the elements involved had no concern with the welfare and development of the masses.

“The census was conducted on the pattern of elections, as the findings are being manipulated in the same way the results of elections are manipulated in this country,” he added.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2017