Punjab -Information Minister Azma Bokhari responded on Thursday to criticism from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders over the controversial channel project and advised them to refer their questions to the President of Pakistan rather than the Punjab chief minister.

In response to PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor’s recent press conference, Bokhari said it would be more appropriate for PPP to first resolve his internal discrepancies on the ownership of water resources before accusing Punjab, Express News reported.

“Sindh says it’s their water, and you [PPP] Say, it belongs to Punjab. PPP must first decide if water it actually is, ”she said.

Bokhari questioned whether Chaudhry Manzoor, a Punjab resident, was willing to stand up to the province. “Can’t you fight for Punjab’s rights while living in Punjab?” She asked.

She also claimed that politicizing channels have historically been Sindh’s tactics, but insisted that Punjab does not follow such an approach. “Before she claims to stand with the farmers, check if the farmers are even standing with you,” she added.

The Minister of the Punjab emphasized that the province neither uses anyone’s rights nor allows others to violate on their own. “Punjab has always served as the older brother,” she said.

When he repeated her attitude towards the case, Bokhari said that instead of criticizing Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz or the provincial government, PPP leaders should refer their concerns to President Zardari. “PPP had to refrain from drawing internal discrepancies into the media,” she added.