Nationalist Leaders Demand Inclusion of D.I. Khan and Tank in Proposed Province
BY MUHAMMAD MUSTAFA MUGHAL
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: As part of the first phase of the national coordination campaign for the creation of Saraikistan province, a delegation of Saraiki nationalist leaders led by prominent figure Sain Zahoor Dhareeja arrived in “Mukh Saraikistan” Dera Ismail Khan on Saturday.
The leaders and activists held a large protest in front of the Dera Ismail Khan Press Club, demanding the inclusion of Dera Ismail Khan and Tank in the proposed Saraikistan province.
Addressing the protest, Sain Zahoor Dhareeja and other speakers rejected the concept of “South Punjab,” calling it an artificial construct aimed at dividing the Saraiki belt. They emphasized that Dera Ismail Khan and Tank are historically, linguistically, and culturally integral parts of the Saraiki region and should therefore be included in the new province.
Sain Zahoor Dhareeja said that the Saraiki people have been struggling for decades for recognition, fair distribution of resources, and administrative autonomy. He added that the Saraiki belt has long been deliberately deprived of development and attention, and it is time that the people of this region are given their rightful provincial status.
Founder and Chairman of the Saraiki Qaumi Tehreek (SQT) Tank, Mauz Arain Saraiki, paid tribute to Sain Zahoor Dhareeja and his team for leading the campaign and uniting the Saraiki population across different regions. He reiterated that the campaign would continue peacefully and within democratic and constitutional bounds until the federal government and parliament acknowledged the demand for Saraikistan.
In the protest demonstration, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Member of Provincial Assembly Ahmad Karim Kundi, along with Saraiki leader Ramzan Shori from Tank and several others, also participated and announced their full support for the Saraiki movement.
Protesters carried banners and placards with slogans such as “Saraikistan is our right,” “We want Saraikistan, not South Punjab,” and “Include D.I. Khan and Tank in Saraikistan.” The participants passionately called for the government to take immediate steps toward establishing a new province to ensure administrative justice and cultural recognition for the Saraiki-speaking population.
The speakers further stated that the creation of Saraikistan is not only the demand of the Saraiki people but also a step towards a stronger and more balanced federation in Pakistan. They urged lawmakers, civil society, and the general public to support this legitimate cause, which aims to empower millions of citizens through equitable governance and resource allocation.
The Saraikistan movement has been active for many years with the objective of forming a new province consisting of Saraiki-speaking districts. Supporters of the movement argue that regions like Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Dera Ismail Khan, and Tank have been historically marginalized in terms of development, infrastructure, education, and job opportunities. The movement is now gaining momentum again, and the current coordination campaign aims to mobilize support across various districts and raise the issue at the national level.
