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New province to be created before election: Gilani

MULTAN: Former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani talking to the media persons at Multan Airport.   Related News     Struggle for new provinces MQM's right, says Aitzaz Ahsan MQM observes black day against Khursheed's statement   Related Articles     Province that is a conspiracy By M.A. Niazi   More on this   View All Struggle for new provinces MQM's right, says Aitzaz Ahsan MQM observes black day against Khursheed's statement Altaf for creation of new provinces Senate clears bill to bifurcate Punjab PPP not sincere about Bahawalpur province: Nisar New provinces' commission fails to formulate recommendations PPP leaders vow not to allow Sindh division

MULTAN: Former prime minister and Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that creation of a new province was a part of the party's manifesto, and it will be created before the general election.

Talking to newsmen at the local airport, he said that the decision of a separate province has been taken after discussing all relevant matters in parliament, including economic, water and numbers of seat. Gilani said only the PML-N is not in favour of a separate province, and added that the people should not fall into the party's trap on the issue. The former prime minister said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif should desist from instigating protests.

To a question, he said that he went to the Supreme Court to file a review petition in his disqualification case, saying he had some objections on it. He said that it was his stand that the president had immunity from prosecution, and this has been mentioned in the letter sent to the Swiss authorities. "When I was disqualified, there were different conditions, but the scenario has totally changed in the tenure of Raja Pervez Ashraf. Now the government has written the letter to Swiss authorities. I took the stance that President has constitutional immunity," Gilani added.

The PPP leader told media that he does not know whether Tahirul Qadri's name figured in the list of candidates being considered for caretaker prime minister. He said that keeping in view national interests, Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi was nominated for caretaker setup in Punjab. He said that demand of the opposition for change of governors of the provinces was illegal, as they are the nominees of the federal government. Gilani said that the PPP believed in democracy and had given sacrifices for it. He said that he has expressed solidarity with the people of Kashmir, and added that they had his moral support.

He said that when he was the prime minister he called for resolution of all issues with India, including the disputes of Kashmir, Siachen and others. To a question about granting of the most-favoured nation status to India, Gilani said it means a balance of trade with the neighbouring country, as had been stated by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. PM's Media Coordinator Khawaja Rizwan Alam, MPA Mehr Arshad Sial and other party workers were also present on the occasion.

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