BAHAWALPUR: A large number of activists of five groups demonstrated on Friday to demand a separate Bahawalpur province.

The supporters of a separate province, including members of Jamaat-i-Islami and civil society, assembled near University Chowk and raised slogans in support of their demands. The demonstrators said that they opposed the inclusion of Bahawalpur in the proposed south Punjab province. They clearly stated that they were not against the creation of south Punjab province, but only wanted their “legal right” of restoration of Bahawalpur province.

Threaten to block Sutlej bridge if demand not met

They also condemned the statement of Foreign Minster Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who had opposed the restoration of Bahawalpur province. The speakers also demanded creation of more districts and tehsil headquarters in Bahawalpur division.

The demonstrators threatened that if the government did not accept their demand the Sutlej bridge on the national highway would be blocked indefinitely.

BURN INJURIES: Four people, including three children, suffered serious burns in a fire caused by live electricity wires in a house in Chenab Rasool village near Uch Sharif, about 70 kilometres from here.

According to police and hospital sources, the roof of a house in Basti Machian collapsed at night creating sparks in live wires and causing a fire. Malookan Mai and her three minor children received burn injuries. Police and locals rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to the emergency ward of Bahawal Victoria Hospital where doctors said all four were in a critical condition.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2019