MULTAN – In a worst blow to Nawaz Sharif, Eight Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz lawmakers, including five MNAs and three MPAs, on Monday,announced they were quitting the party and will create a separate provincefor Southern Punjab.

“The purpose of the press conference is to announce the creation of a newprovince,” Khusro Bakhtiar said while addressing a press conference inLahore along with other disgruntled leaders.

Bakhtiarwho is a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from a PML-Nseat has previously served as minister of state for foreign affairs.

Stating that they will create a separate province for southern Punjab, theleaders said, “Poverty rates are higher than 51% in southern Punjab.”

“The creation of a separate province for southern Punjab is a one-pointagenda,” they added.