- Punjab CM says criticism over floods and water rights ‘politicised Punjab’s suffering’
- Tells PPP leadership to ‘think 100 times’ before speaking against Punjab, reiterating ‘Punjab’s dignity is my responsibility’
- Rejects criticism over refusing to draw on BISP database for compensation
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday categorically said she would “never apologise” for her recent remarks that caused a rift between her party, the PML-N, and its coalition partner, the PPP, insisting her statements were a defense of Punjab’s people and accusing the PPP of politicising the province’s suffering during devastating floods.
The controversy erupted when the PPP criticised Punjab’s handling of flood relief, prompting a sharp rebuttal from Maryam, who told the party to “keep its advice to itself.” The war of words quickly expanded to the longstanding issue of water rights on the Indus River. In response, PPP lawmakers staged walkouts from both the National Assembly and Senate.
تکلیف مجھے اس بات کی ہے کہ جب پنجاب میں بدترین سیلاب آگیا پنجاب پہ آفت آگئی ,ایک صوبے کو لوگوں نے نہ صرف پنجاب حکومت پر غلط تنقید کی , اس کے زخموں پہ نمک چھڑکا ,اگر کسی صوبے میں کوئی مصیبت آتی ہے تو پنجاب ہمیشہ دوسرے صوبوں کی مدد کیلیے کھڑا ہوتا ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/8vbYmzL4pT
— Rashid Nasrullah (@RashidNasrulah) October 3, 2025
Although senior leaders from both parties met in Islamabad on Wednesday to cool tempers — with PPP urging Maryam to “rethink her tone” — the Punjab CM doubled down at the launch of the second phase of electric buses in Lahore.
“When floods swept through Punjab, the people of one province not only wrongly criticised the Punjab government but rubbed salt into the wound,” Maryam said. “If there is an issue in any province, do we hold press conferences to spread lies? No — we help them.”
آئندہ پنجاب کے اوپر بات کرنے سے پہلے 100 بار سوچ لینا
pic.twitter.com/L4cltcfRbz
— Resham Saleem
(@ReshamSaleem3) October 3, 2025
She added that she had personally called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, despite political differences, to offer assistance during the floods. “Those in other provinces are my brothers and sisters. Whenever a CM asks me for help with technology or a project, I immediately send my team. To say I celebrate anyone’s suffering is false and deeply upsetting.”
Turning to PPP’s top leadership, she said: “I want to tell [President] Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal [Bhutto-Zardari] that I was hurt when Punjab was in distress. Yet Bilawal held three press conferences, mocking Punjab and spreading lies. I stayed quiet because I was busy serving my people, but if you talk, I will respond.”
CM Maryam also rejected criticism over refusing to draw on the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) database for compensation, explaining: “I did not want general poverty data, but accurate data on flood victims. That’s why I deployed 10,000 people for door-to-door surveys.”
On the PPP’s parliamentary walkouts, she asked: “Why should I apologise? The spokesperson who politicised Punjab’s suffering must apologise. Maryam Nawaz Sharif will never apologise when it comes to defending her people’s dignity.”
The chief minister then addressed the contentious canals project, which Sindh had opposed, saying she had already taken the matter to the Council of Common Interests (CCI). “Punjab’s farmers have the right to that water. Politicising this issue is unjust,” she stressed.
The Punjab chief minister also distanced herself from controversial remarks made by YouTuber Rizwan Razi (Razi Dada) against Sindh. “He said something inappropriate — I cannot endorse it. He later apologised unconditionally before a Senate committee, and forgiveness should have followed. Yet the PPP mocked him. I stayed silent then, but I will not allow Punjab’s people to be insulted again.”
The CM concluded with a pointed warning: “The people of Punjab love their land, and their self-respect is my responsibility. Think 100 times before speaking negatively about Punjab.”
