Punjab–Sindh war of words deepens as Sharjeel, Azma trade fresh barbs

Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari have exchanged a fresh round of accusations, further intensifying the ongoing war of words between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has accused the Punjab government of carrying out a campaign against the Pakistan Peoples Party. He said, while the Punjab government targets PPP for criticism, the real target is the federal government.

“Whatever has been happening over the past few days, Punjab is indirectly targeting the PPP, but the real target is the federal government. They have internal issues with the prime minister or the centre, so they are using the PPP as a cover to settle those issues. In this way, they are trying to create an environment to discourage our support for the federal government,” Sharjeel said while speaking at a press conference in Karachi on Sunday.

He said, “We are not part of the government, but we support it on an issues-based approach. We will not allow Punjab’s conspiracy against the federal government to succeed.”

Sharjeel accused Punjab of being jealous of successful federal initiatives. “When the prime minister visits Sindh or Balochistan, the provincial chief ministers welcome him, while in Punjab, neither a welcome nor a protocol is provided to him,” the senior minister said.

He also claimed that during India-Pakistan tensions, some in Punjab tried to claim credit for military successes, while failing to support the flood-affected people. “It takes time to rehabilitate victims, but the Punjab government is unable to provide relief to affected citizens,” he added.

Sindh assisted Punjab during devastating floods

Sharjeel said, the PPP and the Sindh government actively assisted the people of Punjab following the devastating floods. “Bilawal Bhutto himself visited the affected areas and mobilised the organisations,” he said.

Sharjeel added that PPP leaders in Punjab were also visible on the ground. Bilawal Bhutto urged the federal government to seek support from international organisations, noting that environmental changes were largely due to global factors. “We will turn to international agencies for assistance,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for appealing to international organisations, despite some criticism questioning how a ‘self-respecting’ government could make such an appeal. “Still the criticism from Punjab continues,” he said.

‘You are playing the Punjab card’

He said that all of this is orchestrated by their scriptwriter, who used to write speeches for the ‘Vote for Your Rights’ campaign. Now, he is writing speeches based on the Punjab card. “You may disagree with our politics and work, but do not promote hatred and prejudice,” he added.

Memon further stated, “You may deliver hate-filled speeches and support such people, but we still stand with the people of Punjab. When dangerous threats were made against our leadership, our leader raised the slogan of Pakistan Khappay.”

The senior minister said, “Your scriptwriter is giving you the wrong script. I have a thousand videos showing that people in South Punjab are waiting for relief, yet you claim they don’t need assistance. We are not politicising the floods. Those who focus more on TikTok than work, are the ones playing politics.”

Threats will not intimidate PPP

He said that politics is being played by those who even put their pictures on packets of biscuits and flour bags. “Nadeem Afzal, Kaira Sahab, and I have all addressed Maryam Nawaz as ‘sister,’ yet they are shouting loudly. They responded to the voice of Sindh’s spiritual leader but ignored Khawaja Asif. We know what their own ministers and MNAs say about you. Threats were made that your fingers would be broken. The PPP has confronted dictators and sacrificed; do you think such threats will intimidate us? This style and tone of dialogue are unacceptable,” he added.

Sharjeel said that the PPP leadership did not flee the country during difficult times by making deals. “These threats cannot harm us. You do not even conduct local government elections, and no one talks about it. The courts have not taken action either. We also demand that local government elections be held in Punjab, the province that has had more resources, and most of the federal government projects have also been concentrated there,” he said.

Sharjeel defends BISP

The minister also defended the use of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to provide immediate aid to masses. “Objections were raised against BISP, and they arose because the scheme was launched by President Zardari in the name of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto,” the senior minister added.

He criticised Punjab’s handling of a controversial remark by a government TV employee, noting that the official apologised before a standing committee, yet Punjab ministers continued to support him on social media. “You are deliberately supporting someone to play the Punjab card,” he said.

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Sharjeel highlighted Sindh’s efforts during crises, including the launch of electric buses and free healthcare services, and criticised Punjab’s political focus on self-promotion rather than serving the masses.

He concluded by challenging Punjab’s claims on electricity subsidies and governance issues. “The IMF objected, and the subsidies were stopped. They claim we complained, but the IMF coordinates with the federal government. We are ready to discuss any issue. Let them speak; we are prepared.”

Azma Bukhari responds to Sharjeel Memon

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari responded sharply to statements made by Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, accusing the Pakistan Peoples Party of undermining the federal government while attempting to politicise flood relief efforts.

“Even while serving as Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto, along with his party, hollowed out the roots of the federal government and the prime minister,” Bukhari said. “Those whose own house suffers from internal discord are now making frivolous remarks about ours to cover their own mistakes and shortcomings.”

In a statement, she accepted Sharjeel’s challenge, saying, “The place and time can be of your choice, but you must come in person. Do not hide behind any proxy. Your narrative of dirty politics over Punjab’s flood victims has failed. Now you are bringing a narrative against the prime minister.”

‘You are conspiring against both Centre and Punjab’

Bukhari accused Sharjeel of hypocrisy and questioned his political motives. “You are conspiring against the federal and Punjab governments,” she said.

She criticised PPP leaders for invoking regional and subsidy-based political cards. “When asked about your performance, you start playing the provincial card. Using the South Punjab card and the Benazir Income Support Programme for politics is not a politics; it is filth. South Punjab today is far better and more developed than any area in interior Sindh,” Bukhari added.

The minister also addressed the PPP’s intervention in Punjab’s affairs. “Bilawal and Aseefa, along with the entire PPP, keep asking Punjab to use BISP. When we raise issues about garbage removal in Karachi, damaged roads, or corruption in solar panel projects, they respond with the ‘linguistic card’ and ‘regional card.’ Do not interfere in Punjab’s affairs. Stop pretending to be innocent,” Bukhari said.

‘LG elections in Punjab will not be like bogus ones in Karachi’

Bukhari warned against threats and protests orchestrated to influence the provincial or federal government. “Threatening and blackmailing the federal and Punjab governments through paid protests is your speciality. Who are you to give orders to Punjab? Keep your directives and advice to yourself. Local government elections in Punjab will not be like the bogus ones, held in Karachi. You are trying to intervene in another province,” she added.

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She further addressed water and social issues in Punjab. “‘My water, my choice’ works exactly the same as ‘do not give water to others.’ You may fuss over water day and night, but Punjab’s water will not be used according to your whims. Feudalism and denying education to poor farmers’ children do not gain popularity. If you were not afraid of Maryam Nawaz’s popularity, you would not need a press conference on a holiday,” she said.

‘Did PPP provide a single penny of aid to flood victims?’

Bukhari also questioned PPP’s role in flood relief. “Did the PPP in Punjab and Sindh provide a single penny of aid to flood victims? You sent taunts instead and turned their deprivation into a spectacle. This is Punjab, not Sindh, where years of work is done in days. You are still busy in heralding the 2022 floods,” she said.

She concluded by highlighting ongoing relief work in Punjab. “Where surveys have been completed, cheques are now being distributed. Those receiving relief are offering prayers and thanking Maryam Nawaz. Try seeing Punjab without the lens of hatred and prejudice,” Bukhari said.

PPP, PML-N spat erupts over BISP

For several days, the ongoing war of words between Punjab and Sindh has continued, with the political spat between the PML-N and the PPP initially stemming from disagreements over the use of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for flood relief efforts.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari defended the BISP as Pakistan’s most effective social safety net and urged the federal government to use it to provide immediate assistance to flood-affected farmers.

Responding to the PPP’s objection over not using BISP data, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the programme was designed for small cash disbursements to the underprivileged, whereas her government’s rehabilitation initiative was far more comprehensive.

“The BISP gives Rs10,000, but our government aims to provide 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 on the ground conducting a survey of the losses,” she said.

However, tensions between the two parties escalated when Maryam Nawaz raised the issue of constructing the highly contentious Cholistan Canal — a proposal the PPP denounced as “hateful and divisive.”