Lahore:
The political spat between PML-N and PPP, which prevails over Punjab and Sindh provinces respectively, originally stemmed from discrepancies on the use of Benazir Income Support Program (Bisp) to flood victims.
However, the switch between the two parties – whose marriage to convenience maintains the current political exemption – was hinted at Monday when Punjab Minister Maryam Nawaz raised the spectrum of constructing the highly disputed cholistan channel in a speech that PPP condemned as “hateful and split”.
With the launch of electrical buses in Faisalabad, Maryam declared that she would not bow to “unjustified criticism” and suggested pushing on with the Cholistan Canal project – a move that has already strained the coalition partnership.
By taking a direct iron against PPP, Maryam said, “What is it with you if we want to irritate our own country in the Cholistan Desert from our own water and our own money?”
Across the border where, according to her, they are no bickering, they have already irrigated their desert and reap agricultural products. “If they can do that, why can’t we? We don’t rob any of their water.” She accused PPP of objecting to any initiative of her government, from electricity relief to irrigation projects.
“I was silent before, but now they criticize us for using Punjab’s own resources to help our people. This money belongs to Punjab -people. If we don’t use them on them, what should we spend on them?” She asked.
Maryam claimed she didn’t need permission from anyone to earn Punjab.
“When it comes to the people of Punjab and Punjabis, we don’t let you have it easy,” she declared. She criticized PPP for with her words: “To attack the Prime Minister and myself” just to refuse to seek international help.
“Unfortunately, they believe that Tigging is the solution to any problem. Each province gets its share from NFC. If it is not to be used on our people, what is it?”
In response to PPP’s objection to not using Bisp data, Maryam said Bisp is intended for small cash payments to the underprivileged, while her government’s rehabilitation program was far more extensive.
“Bisp gives Rs 10,000, but our government is aiming to give RS1 million to those who lost their houses and RS500,000 to those who lost their livestock. Half a million people have lost their homes. Dozens of teams are already due to a study of the losses,” she said.
The sharp remarks drew strong reactions from PPP leaders.
Sindh’s Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon expressed “deep disappointment” in a social media post describing Maryam’s comments as “dividing and hateful rhetoric” and promised a detailed counter -movement at a press conference on Tuesday.
PPP’s central information secretary Shazia Marri also hit back and said, “Leaders do not emit threats – they show service and performance. PPP has always chosen patience despite criticism.”
She noted that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto had called for immediate relief through Bisp, remembering that during 2022 flood victims, RS25,000 per year. Family through the program, and by 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also depended on Bisp data for the Ramzan package.
“We will continue to focus on farmers and flooded people in Sindh. Leaders serve; they do not cause threats. In times of natural disaster, it is not about ego and pride, but about helping people. Our relief work is our priority,” Marri emphasized.
Her remarks received a counter-attack from Punjab Minister of Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, who accused PPP of acting as a “knowledge-it-all”.
“These are the ones that emit dictations and at the same time give threats. Where you do not have a mandate, do not try to forcibly build a mosque on borrowed land. Such attempts will never succeed,” she warned.
Azma also said that if Bilawal wanted to prove his performance, he should do it in Sindh where PPP controls. “Punjab’s people have given their mandate to Maryam Nawaz. She understands their problems and is already treating them effectively,” Bokhari argues.
She spotted PPP’s dependence on Bisp fellowships: “The Punjab government will not engage in token -policy by distributing RS12,000 awards. Such lollipop must be reserved for Sindh.”
She reminded PPP leaders that “this is not 2022, but 2025,” added that Punjab stood firm on her development and welfare agenda and would not bow to external pressure.
When asked by the Express Pakinomist, whether the Punjab government actually considered reviving the shrinking Cholistan Canal project, Azma replied: “Let’s see.”
