MULTAN: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Member National Assembly (MNA) Syed Ali Qasim Gilani strongly responded to Chief Minister Punjab’s recent statements made during a visit to Dera Ghazi Khan. CM Maryam had responded to the earlier statements by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Gilani criticized CM’s statements, describing them as ‘unnecessarily harsh’ against the PPP.
Also read: BISP’s Rs10,000 won’t rebuild homes, Maryam Nawaz hits back at Bilawal
Speaking to the media, Gilani said, “The chief minister used a harsh tone against the PPP. However, we do not want anyone to be disheartened by her words,” adding that Bilawal Bhutto has consistently praised the work of the Government of the Punjab, as well as indicating a willingness to work cooperatively in the face of national challenges.
Referring to the recent floods that devastated South Punjab, Gilani questioned the decision-making processes behind disaster management. “People ask whether we were destroyed by a natural disaster or by someone’s decision,” he said.
Gilani also rejected the notion that the PPP was politicising the flood crisis saying that the party has not made these allegations against the ruling PML-N either. “We never said the PML-N is doing politics on the flood issue. If we talked about possibility of help through BISP [Benazir Income Support Programme], what kind of trouble did that cause? Did the Punjab government feel bad when we asked the federal government for help for flood victims?” he said.
Qasim Gilani said that the PPP does not believe in self-promotion, but every party seems eager to take credit for the motorway. “We should instead focus on solving problems,” he added.
Highlighting the damage caused by floods, Gilani noted that the motorway in Jalalpur Peerwala was affected at 13 locations. “Whose fault was the flawed design of the motorway? Floods have affected all four tehsils of Multan, and we are working as a team to support the victims,” he said.
He credited the media for bringing attention to the suffering of flood victims and appreciated the leadership’s ground-level visits, including those by Bilawal Bhutto and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Also read: Bilawal lashes out at federal govt; urges use of BISP for flood relief
Gilani reiterated that the PPP is a part of the federal government and said Bilawal Bhutto had presented demands to ensure relief reaches those in need. “Bilawal Bhutto even suggested that more flood victims be added to BISP,” he said, while acknowledging CM Maryam’s visit to flood-affected districts, saying, “The CM took stock of the situation on the ground, and we appreciate any step that brings real help to the people.”