ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Asad Qaiser on Monday threw down a political gauntlet to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), urging it to stop what he termed as “friendly fire” and to instead move a no-confidence motion against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly following a PPP walkout, Qaiser said his party would extend full support if the PPP decided to challenge the federal coalition in a constitutional manner. “If they are serious, they should bring a no-confidence motion; we will stand by them,” he said, asserting that PTI would help “topple the current setup that lacks legitimacy.”
The statement comes amid an increasingly bitter exchange between the PPP and PML-N over flood relief, water distribution, and provincial performance, with both allies publicly trading accusations despite sharing power at the Centre.
Earlier, PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf expressed dismay over remarks made by a Punjab minister about Sindh, calling them “irresponsible” and “deeply hurtful.” He said such rhetoric undermined unity and weakened the federation. PPP members later announced they would not return to the House until a formal clarification was issued.
As tensions escalated, President Asif Ali Zardari stepped in to mediate, contacting Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and summoning him to Karachi for an urgent meeting to defuse the row. The President’s Office confirmed the move, citing concerns over growing strains between the two coalition partners.
The dispute traces back to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s sharp criticism of the Sindh government’s handling of flood rehabilitation. The PPP has demanded an apology, which has so far been rejected by the Punjab leadership.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also rebuked the Punjab government for what she called “petty political point-scoring” at a time when flood victims still await relief. Referring to the federal government’s appeals for climate funding, she said, “It’s ironic to object to aid requests while seeking IMF climate finance.”
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari defended her government’s position, saying the province would “continue to fight for its people,” while challenging the PPP to show tangible results from its long rule in Sindh.
The latest exchange adds another layer to Pakistan’s increasingly fractious political landscape, where alliances appear to be held together more by necessity than shared vision.
