President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday called Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Karachi for an urgent meeting as tensions continued to rise between the Sindh and Punjab governments, with the PPP staging a walkout from the National Assembly and Senate.
The PPP and PML-N are coalition partners in the Centre.
A post on X from the presidency said that Zardari and Naqvi held a telephone conversation related to the ongoing row between the Sindh and Punjab governments.
“President Asif Ali Zardari spoke to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi over the phone to discuss the recent tensions between the Sindh and Punjab governments. The president has called the interior minister to Karachi for an urgent meeting in this regard,” the post said.
The PPP and the PML-N’s Punjab leadership have been engaged in a war of words for the past many days over issues ranging from flood compensation to water rights in the context of the Cholistan canals project. The PPP, which is in power in Sindh, has been particularly incensed by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s remarks, whose party is also leading the federal government.
The war of words between the two sides initially kicked off over flood compensation but expanded to water rights on the Indus River as CM Maryam told the PPP leadership to keep its advice to itself.
On Monday, the PPP staged walkouts from both the Senate and the National Assembly, demanding an apology from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership over what it described as “disparaging remarks” against its top figures.
During the Senate session on Monday, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said the country was facing devastating floods, affecting millions across Sindh and Punjab.
“Instead of strengthening the people in this difficult time, we are weakening them through political rhetoric,” she said. “The war of words between the Punjab and Sindh governments is hurting the federal coalition.”
Rehman criticised what she called the “use of the Punjab card,” saying the red line was being crossed. “Making inappropriate remarks about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto is unacceptable,” she added.
“Even Punjab has PPP representation. Bilawal merely suggested using the Benazir Income Support Programme to help flood victims. Government alliances cannot survive on the basis of humiliation. An apology does not diminish anyone’s dignity.”
She added that the PPP had always advocated for climate justice, noting that southern Punjab had been devastated by floods and crops destroyed. “I am ashamed to even repeat the words that were used,” she said. “If an apology is not offered to our leadership, we should not be taken for granted.”
Following her remarks, PPP senators tore up copies of the agenda and walked out of the session.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar expressed regret over the situation, saying, “If anyone’s words have caused hurt, I feel sorry as a political worker. President Zardari is a senior statesman and will play a conciliatory role. The opposition should not rejoice; we will try to bring our friends back.”
The acting Senate chairman directed senators Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Afnanullah Khan, and Anusha Rahman to persuade the PPP members to return to the chamber.
In the National Assembly, the session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also saw the PPP staging a walkout.
Meanwhile, Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser on Monday urged the Pakistan Peoples Party to stop “friendly fire” and bring a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, as tensions grow between the PPP and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Asad Qaiser assured the Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led party of PTI’s support for a no-confidence motion against the Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
“If they [PPP’s leadership] are serious, they should bring a no-confidence [motion], and we will support it,” says Qaiser.
He added: “We will help them topple the [PML-N-led] government [in Centre]. I am offering – bring a no-confidence now and you will have our complete support.”
Moreover, negotiations between the government and PPP at speaker chamber ended without any result.
Prime Minister aide on political affairs and PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said that the PPP would continue protest and walk out from the parliament.
He clarified that the PPP has not demanded an apology from Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz.
Sources said that a major meet-up is likely to happen between the leadership of the two key coalition partner in the next two days.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would call on President Asif Zardari soon, the sources said.
The sources from the PML-N apprised that the premier also requested his elder brother and the President of party, Nawaz Sharif to play his role.
Nawaz ‘backs’ Maryam
President PML-N Nawaz Sharif has backed Maryam Nawaz in the ongoing row between the People’s Party and the Punjab government.
According to media reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a meeting with the former prime minister, talked about the dispute and said that if Maryam Nawaz avoids harsh statements, the People’s Party will also observe a ceasefire.
Nawaz Sharif, however, backed daughter Maryam Nawaz and said that the “Punjab chief minister’s statements are a reaction to the People’s Party’s undue criticism. Maryam Nawaz has truly represented the people of Punjab,” Nawaz Sharif told the prime minister.