On Tuesday, the Pakistani peoples party organized a dramatic raising in the National Assembly, expressing disappointment and anger at the recent remarks of the chief minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, who said: “Our water, our canals, our choice”.
PPP MNA Syed Naveed Qamar has strongly criticized Maryam’s recent speeches, in particular his comments on water rights.
He questioned the declaration by saying: “What does that even mean?” Water belongs to the Industry river – it belongs to all of Pakistan. Such speeches are disappointing ”. To protest, PPP members left the house. “We are tight to support this government, but we have not paid any costs to stay on the treasure benches – we can also sit in the opposition,” added Qamar.
Maryam had said earlier: “What is if, on our own water and our own money, we want to irrigate our own land in the Cholistan desert?” – A remark that fueled tensions with the PPP.
In response, the Federal Minister of Law Azam Tarar tried to minimize the situation, calling it “simple disagreement within the family” and insisted that it was part of a healthy democratic process. He apologized on behalf of the Punjab CM and reiterated that the ranging did not reflect any deep fracture within the power coalition. He argued that the alliance with the PPP will remain intact.
Read: Maryam Stokes PPP ire in terms of the Cholistan Canal
However, signs of tension within the coalition become more and more visible. The conflicts between the two parties have developed – in particular above the key to the Benazir income support program (BISP) in the flood help efforts, a decision that PPP considers as an attempt to marginalize one of its main inheritances.
The PPP organized a raising of the room, expressing its concern that the government does not seriously consider its suggestions for the relief and rehabilitation of people affected by floods.
PPP president Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed his dissatisfaction with Maryam’s disdainful remarks on Bisp, calling them inappropriate and unacceptable.
When the Minister of Culture of Punjab, Azma Bukhari, was questioned by The Express PK Press Club That the Punjab government actually planned to rekindle the project of Cholistan canal shelf, it replied in a touched way: “Let’s see.”
Despite Tarar’s insurance, the current friction – from channel policy to BISP criticism – suggests that the coalition is more fractured than unified.
