Web Desk; The simmering tensions between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took a new turn on Sunday when Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon accused the Punjab government of using the PPP as a “cover” to target the federal government.
The two ruling coalition partners at the Centre have been engaged in an escalating war of words in recent days over several issues, including flood relief distribution, water rights, and the Cholistan canals project. The PPP, which governs Sindh, has particularly objected to recent remarks by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, whose party heads the federal coalition.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Memon claimed that while the Punjab administration was apparently criticising the PPP, its “actual target is the federal government.” He alleged, “They are using our cover to settle their issues with the prime minister or to create a situation where we are pressured not to support the federal government.”
Memon stressed that the PPP supported the federal coalition on key matters to keep the political system stable, accusing Punjab of deliberately trying to sow discord between allies in Islamabad. “We will not let this conspiracy against the federal government succeed,” he declared.
He also took aim at what he called Punjab’s “jealousy” over Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the army chief’s successful visits to Saudi Arabia and the United States. “Some people think this success should have been theirs,” he remarked.
The Sindh minister further criticised Punjab’s lack of protocol for the prime minister during his visits, contrasting it with the reception he receives in Sindh and Balochistan. He urged Punjab’s leadership to keep their differences with the premier internal instead of dragging the PPP into it.
On flood relief, Memon said the focus should be on helping affected communities rather than political point-scoring. He highlighted the dire situation in southern Punjab and denied politicising the issue. He pointed out that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had called for international assistance and the use of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for immediate relief.
In response, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari accepted Memon’s challenge for a debate “at a time and place of your choice.” She accused Bilawal, as foreign minister, of weakening the federal government and said the PPP resorts to “provincial politics” when its governance is questioned.
Bokhari claimed south Punjab is more developed than rural Sindh, questioned PPP’s performance on water projects, and criticised its response to floods. On social media, she accused Memon of meddling in Punjab’s affairs because “they have decided not to work in Sindh.”
The online spat between both parties escalated further, with the PPP sharing alleged complaints from Punjab flood victims and the PML-N countering with supportive interviews.
Memon also criticised Punjab’s support for vlogger Rizwan Razi, whose televised remarks against the Sindhi community were condemned as hate speech. While the Senate investigated and PTV dismissed him, CM Maryam publicly backed him. Memon called Punjab’s response “a childish drama” meant to distract from flood issues, questioning how anti-hate speech laws could be enforced if offenders were forgiven so easily.
He ended by emphasising national unity: “Whether Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun or anyone else — we all live like brothers and respect each other.”
