LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The tensions between two key ruling alliance partners — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — could not be lessened on Friday as the PPP staged a walkout from the National Assembly in protest against recent remarks by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who strongly defended Punjab’s canal projects and rejected calls for an apology from the PPP leaders.
Maryam Nawaz strongly defended Punjab’s right to develop new canals project, declaring that she would not remain silent against criticism of the province.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the electric bus project in Lahore, she said Punjab had been prevented from constructing canals despite committing its own funds. “Punjab is my province, the water flowing in its rivers is my water. If I want to dig canals for the benefit of my people, why are you in such pain?” she remarked, without naming Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders, who had opposed the project. Maryam said the issue had been taken to the Council of Common Interests (CCI), where Punjab fought its case but was denied permission. “They even made people protest on the streets against Punjab. If I will not speak for the rights of Punjab, then who will?” she asked.
Responding to calls from PPP leaders for an apology, she firmly rejected the demand. “Why should I apologise? The spokesperson who mocked Punjab during a disaster should apologise. Maryam Nawaz will never apologise,” she said, adding that protecting the dignity of Punjab’s people was her foremost duty.
She stressed that nations are built on self-reliance, not just projects. “Think a hundred times before speaking against Punjab in future,” she warned.
The chief minister also expressed disappointment with PPP leadership. “I want to tell Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is like my younger brother, that I am disappointed due to his behaviour. When the people of Punjab faced disaster, I did not ask anyone for money or help. Instead of standing with us, they mocked Punjab by holding three press conferences,” she recalled.
Her remarks came after the war of words between PMLN and PPP, which began over flood compensation through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), and intensified after the Punjab CM dismissed PPP’s objection over the contentious canal project on the Indus River.
Announcing new transport initiatives, Maryam informed that 70 more buses will be added to Lahore’s fleet by December. With the inclusion of Sheikhupura, Lahore and Kasur divisions, the total number of buses across Punjab will reach 500.
The chief minister also unveiled plans to distribute two million ration cards, each offering a monthly stipend of Rs3,000. She noted that the special relief cards for differently-abled citizens had already been issued to 60,000 people, with a target to expand the scheme to 100,000 beneficiaries.
Recalling Punjab’s flood relief efforts, Maryam stated that the provincial government had rescued at least 2.5 million flood-affected people and treated them like guests by providing them with three meals daily, shelter and vaccinations.
Separately, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz hailed the success of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, congratulating the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force, and paying tribute to Field Marshal Asim Munir and the military leadership for what she termed a ‘historic achievement’.
She was addressing a delegation of the National Security and War Course, which included officers from Pakistan’s armed forces, civil services, and 47 participants from 26 countries, including Australia, the UK, China, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Iran, Palestine and South Korea.
The chief minister briefed the delegation on Punjab’s reforms, asserting that her government has eliminated nepotism and political appointments, ensuring 100 per cent merit-based recruitment. “There is no accusation of corruption against this government, which is itself a remarkable achievement,” she said.
Maryam highlighted improvements in law and order, crediting the newly-established Crimes Control Department (CCD) for a significant reduction in crime rates. She said Punjab successfully used thermal imaging drones for rescue and relief during the province’s worst-ever floods, enabling the largest evacuation operation in its history.
She further noted that Punjab’s revenue had reached one trillion rupees and stressed her willingness to share resources with other provinces. On agriculture, she said mechanisation was being introduced for the first time, while in health, cancer patients would now be treated with advanced co-ablation technology.
The CM also pointed to environmental and social welfare initiatives, including 15 imported smog gun machines, the development of 500 villages on modern lines, and the launch of anti-narcotics and environmental protection forces.
Members of the visiting delegation, including international participants, lauded Punjab’s public welfare projects, with a Bangladeshi delegate particularly praising the CM’s initiatives.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party Friday staged a walkout from the National Assembly in protest against recent remarks made by the Punjab chief minister.
During the Question Hour in the National Assembly, Naveed Qamar, on a point of order, raised the issue of ongoing war of words between two coalition partners.
Explaining the party’s position, senior PPP leader said, “We had already raised our protest. A government team held talks with us, but the ground situation remains unchanged. Until circumstances improve, we cannot remain part of this House. We are walking out in protest.”
However, after some time, treasury members persuaded PPP lawmakers to return, and the opposition party eventually rejoined the proceedings.
Later, after adjournment of the Friday sitting of the National Assembly, PPP whip in National Assembly Ijaz Jhakrani, in an informal talk with the media, said the PPP returned to the house to attend the sitting on the government request for official statement of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on strategic agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and on Palestine. He said the PPP would not participate in the session and legislation process.
The PPP had also walked out from the National Assembly on Tuesday, while announcing that the PPP would not be part of the process of legislation unless the government would not remove its reservations regarding the statements of Maryam Nawaz and ministers of the provincial government.
Also, PPP Central Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan on Friday accused Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz of neglecting flood victims and attempting to mask her government’s failures with divisive rhetoric.
In a strongly worded statement, he said Maryam was branding those highlighting public grievances as “enemies of Punjab” instead of addressing the plight of flood-affected communities. “Hundreds of kilometres of agricultural land remain submerged, yet the chief minister seems more focused on political criticism than relief efforts,” he remarked.
He pointed out that residential areas, schools, hospitals, and roads were still under floodwater, adding that the provincial government had failed to manage the disaster effectively. “I am a Punjabi, and Punjabis will not stand with a chief minister who has drowned her people in floodwater,” Chan said.
The PPP leader further criticised Maryam Nawaz’s focus on rallies instead of governance, saying the people of Punjab demanded local government elections, not self-projection. He warned that with billions in agricultural losses and looming food security challenges, the chief minister bore direct responsibility for failing to address the crisis.
