ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have agreed to put an end to their recent verbal clashes following a controversy over Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s remarks and to resolve all issues through mutual understanding and dialogue, it is learnt.
A PPP delegation met PML-N leaders in the chamber of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday to ease tensions between coalition partners.
The PML-N side included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Senator Rana Sanaullah, Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Rana Mubashir Iqbal, while the PPP was represented by Syed Naveed Qamar and Ejaz Jakhrani.
According to the sources, during the meeting, PPP leaders raised objections to Maryam Nawaz’s recent speeches, particularly her criticism of PPP’s response to floods in Punjab and her comment that she would “break the finger” raised against her province.
They said that Naveed Qamar warned that such statements between coalition partners damage both consensus and governance, and urged restraint from both sides.
The sources said that Naveed Qamar conveyed to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz should avoid making controversial statements. He also warned Rana Sanaullah that harsh remarks from the PML-N would invite equally strong responses from the PPP.
Sources said that after the meeting, Ishaq Dar and Naveed Qamar left the Speaker’s chamber while Rana Sanaullah remained inside for further discussions. Both parties eventually agreed that political differences should be resolved through mutual understanding rather than public criticism.
This development came days after exchanges of harsh words between the two coalition partners. PPP leaders, including Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, criticised the federal government for not providing relief to flood victims through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and urged it to seek international assistance for flood victims. In response, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari dismissed the PPP’s suggestions, rejecting the use of the BISP for flood relief. Later, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, during a speech in Faisalabad, said she needed no one’s permission to serve the people. She argued that “not everything can be solved through the BISP” and declared that the practice of “begging” must come to an end. Maryam further stated that Punjab has every right to fight for its share of resources, including canal waters, and questioned why other provinces objected when Punjab asserted its rights. She stressed that no one should object to Punjab extending help to flood victims.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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