LAHORE/KARACHI: A war of words between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) escalated on Sunday when Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon challenged Punjab government ministers to an open, on-the-record debate — a challenge that Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari accepted.
Speaking at a press briefing in Karachi, Sharjeel Memon accused the Punjab government of trying to engineer a rift between the PPP and federal government by using the PPP as a “cover”. He warned that the PPP would not allow what he described as a “conspiracy” to succeed and invited Punjab ministers to face him in public debate to settle the matter.
He reaffirmed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s commitment to national unity, declaring that “the PPP has always raised only one slogan — ‘Pakistan Khappay’ (Long live Pakistan).”
Memon said this slogan, first voiced by the late Benazir Bhutto’s son and PPP leaders in 2007 after her assassination, symbolises the party’s unwavering belief in the federation of Pakistan and its democratic integrity. He said the PPP’s politics revolve around safeguarding the country’s stability and constitutional order, not divisive rhetoric.
“We have sacrificed our leaders and workers for the sake of Pakistan’s democracy,” Memon said. “Those who try to question our patriotism or create mistrust between provinces should remember that ‘Pakistan Khappay’ is not just a slogan — it is our political philosophy.”
He criticised what he described as attempts by the Punjab government to “malign Sindh and the PPP” for political mileage, stressing that such tactics weaken the federation rather than strengthen it. Memon said that the PPP’s struggle was rooted in reconciliation and national harmony, not confrontation, and that his challenge for a live debate was meant to expose “those who fan division while pretending to promote unity.”
Memon’s alleged that certain elements in Punjab were attempting to target the prime minister and weaken the federal setup by fomenting a split between coalition partners — a move he called politically dangerous for the alliance at the Centre. He framed the challenge as an attempt to expose what he called the Punjab government’s “real intentions.”
In Lahore, Azma Bokhari reacted strongly and accepted the invitation, telling Memon to set the time and place “of your choice” but insisting he appear personally and not send a proxy. Bokhari accused the PPP of politicising Punjab’s development and relief work and said the opposition’s narrative against Punjab had failed. “Name the time and place — but come yourself, don’t hide behind any proxy,” she said in her statement.
Azma countered by accusing the PPP of years of misgovernance in Sindh, of using “blackmail tactics and paid protests,” and of resorting to identity-based politics whenever their governance record was questioned. She also accused PPP leaders of trying to politicise flood relief and development efforts in Punjab.
She reminded that Bilawal Bhutto, during his tenure as Foreign Minister, worked to weaken the roots of his own party, the federal government, and the Prime Minister — “and the nation remembers this clearly.”
Azma Bokhari accused PPP of conspiring against both Punjab and the Federation, saying that when they are questioned about their own performance, they immediately start playing the provincialism card.
She criticized PPP’s use of the South Punjab card and the Benazir Income Support Program card, saying this is not politics but “filth.” She pointed out that South Punjab today is far more developed than many areas of interior Sindh, yet PPP continues to push an anti-Punjab narrative.
Bokhari noted that Bilawal, Aseefa, and the entire PPP leadership constantly address Punjab when talking about BISP, yet claim they are only speaking to the Federation.
She further said that whenever issues like Karachi’s garbage crisis, broken roads, or corruption in solar panel projects are raised, PPP hides behind linguistic and “Marsoon” cards. “Stop interfering in Punjab’s matters and don’t act innocent,” she added.
Commenting on the water issue, she said, “Slogan of ‘My water, my choice’ is exactly like ‘Marsoon, Pani Na Desoon.’ You can’t cry about water day and night and then dictate how Punjab should use it — that will not happen.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson Shazia Marri urged the Punjab government to set aside political confrontation and focus on providing immediate relief to flood-affected communities across the province. “We can fight our political battles later — right now, Punjab’s flood victims need help,” she said in a statement.
Separately, PPP Central Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan strongly criticised remarks by Azma Bukhari, describing them as “politically motivated and malicious.” “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself had praised Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s performance, and his appointment to head a high-level committee was a reflection of the prime minister’s confidence in him,” he said while reacting to statement of Punjab Minister Azma Bokhari’s remarks on Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Chan noted that Bilawal, as foreign minister, had effectively projected Pakistan’s stance at the international level. “It is regrettable and ungrateful that those who benefited from his leadership are now targeting him with baseless accusations,” he remarked.
On the other hand, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza and Senior Vice President Rana Farooq Saeed Khan accused Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz of targeting the PPP leadership under a “well-thought-out plan” and attempting to weaken the federation.
Addressing a press conference, they said Punjab’s announcement of a housing loan scheme contrasts sharply with Sindh’s initiative, where 1.3 million houses were built for flood victims, and 600,000 were given free of cost. They urged the Punjab government to focus on helping farmers who lost billions in crops to floods.
