Pakistan Seraiki Party(PSP)on Monday observed 'World Mother Tongue Day' here and demanded that Seraiki language be declared an official language of Pakistan "because 50 million people (who are one-third of the country's total population) speak Seraiki". A rally led by Taj Muhammad Langah, Mansoor Karim Siyal, Hassan Raza Bukhari, Liaquat Ali Kamboh and Mehfooz Khan Shujaat started from Chowk Nawan Shehr and ended at Multan Press Club.

Participants were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans 'We appeal UN for introduction of oldest Sindh valley language -Seraiki', 'Don't kill Seraiki language', 'Seraiki tongue of 50 million people', 'Down with Punjabi Language Authority', 'Seraiki Children will not learn Punjabi', and 'Implement on Unesco charter'.

Addressing the rally Langah said that Pakistan was dismembered due to imposition of Urdu language on Bengalis and a number of people were killed in 1948 who were demanding grant of official status to Bangla.

They are still observing the martyrdom day. He said that Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Elahi want to impose 'Punjabi' on 50 million Seraiki people and they had established Punjabi Language Authority and allocated funds of Rs 50 million. "We demand establishment of Seraiki language authority."

Siyal said that 'Urdu', which is a foreign language, is being imposed on Seraiki people and better jobs are being provided to Urdu and English speaking people, which is a great injustice. He stressed the need for eliminating discriminatory laws, traditions, and customs and introducing Seraiki as medium of education in southern Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005