As a Saraiki. A province for us is very necessary. We have different customs and cultures. This being said the need is due for the lack of development and investment in the region. People always play the religion card and the nationalistic card before they look at the reality. Almost all development and investment is focused on upper punjab. The standard of living, education, health care is prioritized in the northern areas of Punjab. While us in the south are left with the scraps. Saraiki people are easy to be manipulated with the religion card because Islam and and our culture go hand in hand.
In terms of culture we are a lot more closer to sindhi culture than punjabi culture. At one point in history Multan was the capital of Sindh. Our language is categorized as a dialect of Punjabi which speaks for itself in regards to the neo-imperialistic vibe Punjabis are trying to play with our specific ethnic group. It's true that at the end of the day we are all Pakistanis but injustice in the name of Pakistan causes one to question there allegiance.
Punjabi dominance within Pakistan does indeed have a role to play with anger within not only the Saraiki community, but also the Baloch, Pashtuun, and Sindhi communities.
As for the political parties. They have their own agendas. Gilani comes from a family that were puppets for the colonial british rulers as do quite a few of the so called saraiki leaders and almost any political figures for that matter in Pakistan.
As for MQM lol they seem to forget the large amount of Bihari settlers Zia sent in the region were met with disdain and resentment. A lot of the elders view the muhajir community in the saraiki region negatively so I don't know what they are trying to pull.
In terms of culture we are a lot more closer to sindhi culture than punjabi culture. At one point in history Multan was the capital of Sindh. Our language is categorized as a dialect of Punjabi which speaks for itself in regards to the neo-imperialistic vibe Punjabis are trying to play with our specific ethnic group. It's true that at the end of the day we are all Pakistanis but injustice in the name of Pakistan causes one to question there allegiance.
Punjabi dominance within Pakistan does indeed have a role to play with anger within not only the Saraiki community, but also the Baloch, Pashtuun, and Sindhi communities.
As for the political parties. They have their own agendas. Gilani comes from a family that were puppets for the colonial british rulers as do quite a few of the so called saraiki leaders and almost any political figures for that matter in Pakistan.
As for MQM lol they seem to forget the large amount of Bihari settlers Zia sent in the region were met with disdain and resentment. A lot of the elders view the muhajir community in the saraiki region negatively so I don't know what they are trying to pull.