LAHORE:
The verbal spat between the PPP and the PML-N — the two parties sustaining the current political dispensation and respectively ruling Sindh and Punjab — continued on Sunday as the PPP highlighted an alleged internal rift within the PML-N while the PML-N accused the PPP chief of weakening his own party.
In a cleverly orchestrated press conference in Karachi, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon advised the PML-N to refrain from dragging the PPP into its internal rifts.
He claimed that the Punjab government’s real issue was with the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government, and that a “conspiracy” had been hatched against the prime minister, who also belongs to the PML-N using the PPP as a scapegoat.
Memon said the PM had earned accolades during his recent US tour, which might have offended his niece and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who “craves the spotlight.”
Citing examples of internal divisions, he remarked that whenever the PM visits any province — Sindh or Balochistan — he is received by the respective chief minister as per protocol, but in his own hometown, “neither the CM nor the provincial administration welcomes him.”
Memon alleged that Punjab even tried to “steal credit” after the Pahalgam incident, claiming that their leader — PML-N President Nawaz Sharif — was the “chief architect of that response.” He said the Punjab government was setting up smokescreens to divert attention from its own shortcomings.
Memon also took issue with Maryam Nawaz’s stance on apologies. “If her position on pardoning after an apology is applied universally, then everyone in jail should be set free as they would all be ready to apologize.”
He added that the Punjab government had run a campaign in support of a YouTuber who had repeatedly used derogatory terms for PPP leaders. “If apology works for you,” he asked, “then why do we have the PECA Act and hate speech laws?”
He accused the Punjab government of fanning provincialism, urging them to “stop playing the provincial card.” He said, “We blame Maryam Nawaz’s speechwriters, who make her spread hate against others. She should tell them to shut up.”
The PPP leader further said that instead of losing focus, the government should “worry about those without shelter and food”. “Media management will not do the trick — you will have to deliver on the ground,” he added.
Addressing the issue of using Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) data to help flood victims and seeking foreign aid for flood rehabilitation, Memon said the PPP had only appealed to the central governmentbut this seemed to offend Punjab.
“We are thankful to the [PML-N led] federal government for listening to us,” he said, recalling that even the PM had sought international assistance during disasters. “So to claim that any self-respecting leader should not seek help is absurd.”
He warned that “playing the provincial card has not worked in the past, nor will it in the future.” He called for unity, saying, “We have always raised the slogan Pakistan Khappay — Pakistan should stay.”
Referring to Maryam’s recent statement about building contentious Cholistan Canal, he said such rhetoric as “my water, my resource” ill-behoves any leader who has read the Water Accord and the Constitution, reminding that these resources belong to everyone, adding that “we [people of Sindh] would never say ‘our ports’ or ‘our coal.'”
Memon said there were ample videos exposing mismanagement of the Punjab government.
“Arm-twisting the media won’t help anymore,” he said, adding that politicizing disaster relief “is despicable” and that “those who love to print their faces on wheat sacks and biscuit wrappers are the ones doing politics on floods.”
However, he stated that the PPP continued to accord Maryam Nawaz the respect she deserved.
“Maryam Nawaz is like our sisterwe respect her as one would respect their sister or daughter. We held no ill will against anyone and that this war of words is not meant to belittle any side.
“Apologizing or not does not reduce her stature — this is not about egos,” Memon said, referring to Maryam Nawaz’s refusal to apologize for her remarks.
“Our criticism is only meant to make them see their shortcomings. Maryam Nawaz not apologizing is not a big issue — this is not about who wins or loses. The federal law minister has already apologized.”
However, he called her remarks about “breaking the fingers of critics” distasteful.
Memon said the true test of performance lies in votes, and in the 2024 elections, “people have already given their verdict” — a veiled jibe at the PML-N for being the “establishment’s pick”.
He added, “If anyone has doubts, I am ready to resign — we can have a re-election and see where we stand. They can resign too, and we’ll know our worth.” He said upcoming local body elections would further reveal each party’s popularity.
Memon said he was ready to respond point-by-point in an open debate at any platform of their choosing, but urged the Punjab government to “focus on governance instead of running campaigns.”
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bukhari, responded strongly to Sharjeel Memon’s statement, accepting his challenge for a live debate. “I accept your debate challenge — the time and place will be of your choosing, but you must come yourself. Don’t hide behind any proxy,” she said.
Azma said the PPP and Memon’s “dirty politics” narrative over Punjab’s flood victims had completely failed, and they had now resorted to a “Phuphay Kutnistyle” attack on the PM.
“Did the prime minister tell you to play politics on Punjab’s misery?” she asked.
She claimed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, during his tenure as foreign minister, “worked to weaken the roots of his own party, the federal government, and the prime minister — and the nation remembers this clearly.”
Azma accused the PPP of conspiring against both Punjab and the federation, saying that “when questioned about their own performance, they immediately start playing the provincialism card.”
She criticized the PPP’s repeated use of the South Punjab and the BISP cards, calling it “filth, not politics”. She said that South Punjab today was more developed than many parts of interior Sindh, yet the PPP continued to push an anti-Punjab narrative.
She noted that Bilawal, his sister Aseefa, and the PPP leadership “constantly address Punjab when talking about the BISP, yet claim they are speaking to the federation.”
Azma said whenever issues such as Karachi’s garbage crisis, broken roads, or corruption in solar projects are raised, the PPP hides behind “linguistic and Marsoon Marsoon slogans.”
“Stop interfering in Punjab’s matters and do not act innocent,” she said.
She accused the PPP of “blackmailing the federation and Punjab through threats and paid protests,” saying, “Who are you to dictate Punjab? Keep your advice and deadlines in your pocket.”
Bukhari said that Punjab’s local government elections would be “transparent and people-driven — unlike the bogus elections held in Karachi.”
Commenting on the water issue, she said, “Your slogan of ‘My water, my choice’ is exactly like ‘Marsoon Marsoon, Pani Na Desoon’. You cannot cry about water day and night and then dictate how Punjab should use it — that would not happen.”
She said that if the PPP were not fearful of Maryam Nawaz’s growing popularity, “they would not have felt the need to hold a press conference on a holiday.”
Azma questioned whether the PPP or the Sindh government had contributed even a single penny to Punjab’s flood victims: “No..instead they sent taunts and staged a spectacle over their misery.”
She stressed that “This is Punjab — not Sindh — where work that takes years elsewhere is completed within days.” She added that compensation cheques had already begun reaching flood victims whose surveys were completed.
“Those receiving relief are praying for Maryam Nawaz and thanking her. Try looking at Punjab without the lens of hatred and prejudice,” she concluded.
Sources said to prevent matters from spiralling out of control, the PPP’s media managers reportedly implemented a new policy: only provincial-level leadership would respond to Azma Bukhari
