MULTAN: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Sunday that his government was determined to set up a new province in the Seraiki belt.“People are seeking their rights and it is my promise to them that a Seraiki province will soon emerge and the people of the area will soon get their own province and the assembly,” the prime minister said while addressing a public meeting at Khanpur Maral.

He said that although some people in the opposition termed the issue of Seraiki province an election stunt of the PPP, but, he added, his party was sincere in its promise to set up new province.

“They (opposition) should suggest ways which should be used for creation of the Seraiki province. They should say whether they want the new province to be created through the ballot or through a protest movement.” He asked the opposition to tell the people what course should be taken.

Referring to severe power and gas shortages which have triggered riots and disturbances across the country, the prime minister claimed that his government would resolve the crisis within a few months.

Mr Gilani said the government had strengthened provinces by giving them autonomy, adding that the PPP was a federal party with roots in the entire country.

“Two things are necessary for security of the country; one of them is the Constitution and the other is a federal political party,” he said, adding that attempts to weaken the federal political party would weaken the country.

He said the government was committed to solving all problems of the country to accomplish the mission of assassinated PPP leaders.

He claimed that the PPP government was moving forward in accordance with the Constitution and people who were accusing the PPP of not acting in accordance with the Constitution, were “misleading the masses”.