Shah Mahmood submits south Punjab province bill in NA

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday submitted a constitutional amendment bill seeking creation of south Punjab province in the National Assembly.

Qureshi presented the bill to NA Speaker Asad Qaiser. Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri was also present on the occasion. On a request by the foreign minister, the Speaker issued directives for the bill to be made part of the agenda of the session on Monday.

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Speaking to the media outside the Parliament House, Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged opposition parties, including the PPP and PML-N, to support the constitutional amendment bill.

This is a longstanding demand of the people of southern Punjab, he said, adding the passage of the bill will further strengthen the federation.

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He maintained the PTI’s was the first government that has made serious efforts for the creation of south Punjab province. It is the first time in the country’s history that a separate annual development package was rolled out for southern Punjab areas, he added.

About the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the opposition will face defeat. “We will face their motion in a democratic, constitutional and political way,” he said.