ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Tuesday threatened to stop supporting the ruling coalition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s recent speeches against aid distribution and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), and staged a walkout from the National Assembly.
During the NA session chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar strongly criticised Maryam Nawaz’s statements, particularly her remarks “our water, our canals, our choice.”
He said that the water belonged to the Indus River and to Pakistan, and such comments were regrettable. “We are being taunted for propping up this government,” he added, warning that PPP could shift to opposition benches.
Following his objection, PPP lawmakers staged a walkout.
Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar expressed regret if Maryam’s remarks had hurt anyone and assured that senior leaders would resolve the matter together.
Meanwhile, PTI-backed independents staged a protest in the House and marched towards the speaker’s dais, prompting the speaker to adjourn the session until Friday morning.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai led the PTI members in holding an alternative “people’s assembly” inside the chamber, under the chair of former speaker Asad Qaiser.
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan tabled resolutions rejecting any move to recognise Israel and opposing the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi from Adiala jail, which were adopted.
PPP’s Naveed Qamar later joined the PTI session briefly before heading to the speaker’s office.
PPP to raise issue with PM
According to sources, the PPP leadership has decided to raise its concerns regarding Maryam Nawaz with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon his return from London.
The party is expected to convey its reservations over Maryam Nawaz’s statements and the behaviour of PML-N ministers, warning that if issues remain unresolved, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider could be tasked to present the province’s “real performance.”
The sources said that a committee led by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, formed to address PPP’s grievances, had failed to make headway. PPP plans to highlight that its demands for flood relief pertained to the federal government, not Punjab, and that the coalition exists because of PPP’s votes. The party warned that if respect is not accorded, it could consider “other options.”
Maryam Nawaz, addressing a school inauguration ceremony in Chakwal earlier, defended her government’s handling of the devastating floods, saying Punjab had carried out an unprecedented relief operation.
She criticised other provinces for only holding press conferences, adding that ministers were not meant to “roam in bulletproof cars and sit in air-conditioned rooms.”
She said people had the right to question their rulers if they lacked roads or affordable bread.