Elahi promises Hazara Province, if voted into power

Lahore: Senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League and Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Sunday vowed to create Hazara Province, if voted into power in the next general elections. Addressing a big public rally in Mansehra, he said support for the PML would guarantee creation of the new province according to the aspirations of the people of Hazara.

“We would make Hazara an exemplary province, the way we did with Punjab five years ago,” he stated. Parvez Elahi said Hazara division had always been a stronghold of the PML. The people of Hazara are patriotic and have rendered great sacrifices to defend Islam and Pakistan. “Their sacrifices are well recognized. They are hard working and hospitable and are well respected from Karachi to Khyber.” He said the PML President Chaudhry Shujat Hussain was the first national leader who took up the issue of Hazara province, seriously. And it was the PML who raised the issue in public meetings, Senate and the National Assembly. The deputy prime minister also announced his party would forge alliance with mainstream religious and political parties before the upcoming elections.

“No individual party or person can overcome challenges confronted by Pakistan. It requires all patriotic political forces to rise above their personal interests,” he told the cheering crowd. Thousands of people thronged to the rally exhibiting their support to the PML. They chanted slogans avowing they would vote for the PML and reject those who betrayed them on the issue of a new province. He said the general elections would shape future of democracy in the country, and that the electorates must reject the cheaters and people with double standards. The PML has already geared up its election campaign by holding public meetings across the country, making new alliance while consolidating those which already exist like with the People’s Party. Recently, the PML and the Pakistan Sunni Tehrik reached an electoral alliance and agreed to contest the upcoming general elections together. The deputy prime minister said victory of the PML in the general elections would be the success of Pakistan.

“Indeed, only elections can strengthen the democracy. And the PML believes in its public support.” Referring to preparedness for the general elections, he told his supporters the PML is a well-organized party at the grass-root level in every province of Pakistan. The deputy prime minister expressed his deep disappointment over the state of affairs in Punjab. He said the flawed policies of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif have reversed the development, which the government of PML had started during its tenure. “The Punjab province suffers a lot under an incompetent government, led by Shahbaz Sharif. The PML-N doesn’t believe in politics of principles,” he observed. He pointed out the hypocrisy of the PML-N on two key national issues – Kalabagh Dam and Hazara Province.

He said that Sharif brothers opposed the creation of Hazara province just to safeguard their personal political interests. Parvez Elahi told the participants that progress of a nation depends on education of the people. He said the government of PML had taken measures to increase the school enrolments, provide free books and financial assistance. Referring to a large number of youngsters and women in the rally, he said they were the frontline workers of the PML and would contribute to its success in the upcoming elections. He thanked Syed Qasim Shah, Sardar Shahjehan Yousuf and Amanullah Jadoon for organizing the rally. Among others Sheikh Waqas Akram and Ajmal Wazir Khattak addressed the rally.