ISLAMABAD:
In what appeared to be a high-level intervention to defuse political tensions between the Sindh and Punjab governments, President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday summoned Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Karachi for urgent consultations, Express News reported.
The move came as a war of words between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which governs Punjab, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which rules Sindh, escalated further – spilling over into both houses of parliament.
Both the Senate and National Assembly sessions on Monday felt the heat of the ongoing row over the distribution of aid among flood victims, as the PPP lawmakers staged walkout to protest “inappropriate” remarks against the party leadership.
According to Express News, Interior Minister Naqvi flew in to Karachi in the evening. Accompanied by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, he later met Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar to offer condolences on the demise of his mother.
Quoting official sources, Express News said President Zardari held a telephonic conversation with Naqvi and discussed the growing discord between the two provincial administrations. The president reportedly directed Naqvi to reach Karachi immediately.
The disagreement between the two provincial governments stems from relief operations for flood-affected people, with both Sindh and Punjab criticising each other over the handling of aid distribution.
The Sindh government has insisted that flood relief should be channelled through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), while the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has refused to adopt the BISP mechanism.
As a result, ministers from both provinces have been holding back-to-back press conferences, trading sharp words over the issue. But on Monday, the war of words moved beyond the media and entered both houses of parliament.
PPP Parliamentary Leader Sherry Rehman raised the issue in the Senate, strongly criticising the Punjab chief minister’s recent statements. She warned that the political confrontation was undermining national unity at a time when millions were suffering due to floods.
“Instead of strengthening people, we are weakening them,” she said. “This war of words is affecting the federal coalition,” she added, while condemning remarks about PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari.
Seeking an apology for the inappropriate comments, Rehman said that doing so would not diminish anyone’s dignity. Following her speech, PPP senators tore up the day’s agenda and walked out of the session in protest.
Responding to her remarks, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that if anyone’s words had caused offence, it was regrettable. “President Zardari is a senior politician and will play a reconciliatory role,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentary Leader Barrister Ali Zafar joined the debate, criticising both provincial governments. “People are dying in floods while Sindh and Punjab leaders are competing for photo sessions and press conferences,” he charged.
“Relief hasn’t reached the victims – perhaps it has only reached their own pockets. This has become a contest over who can hold more press conferences,” he said, alleging that whatever aid was being given to the flood victims was “falling prey to corruption.”
Similar scenes were witnessed in the National Assembly as well. Senior PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf told the House that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had not said anything against the Punjab government, but that “irresponsible statements” were coming from the ruling party.
Following his remarks, PPP lawmakers walked out of the assembly in protest. PTI MNA Asad Qaiser then took the floor, urging the PPP not to engage in “friendly fire”. He said: “Show some courage – join us in bringing a no-confidence motion. Let’s not play a staged match.”
