By Sajid Salamat
Copyright dailytimes
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, responded strongly to Sharjeel Memon’s recent statement, accepting his challenge for a live debate. She stated, “I accept your debate challenge – the time and place will be of your choosing, but you must come yourself. Don’t hide behind any proxy.”
Azma Bokhari said that PPP and Sharjeel Memon’s narrative of dirty politics over Punjab’s flood victims has completely failed, and now they have resorted to launching a “Phuphay Kutni” style narrative against the Prime Minister. “Did the Prime Minister tell you to play politics on the misery of Punjab’s flood victims?” she asked.
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, Asifa, 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 Marsoon” cards. “Stop interfering in Punjab’s matters and don’t act innocent,” she added.
She said that blackmailing the Federation and Punjab through threats and paid protests has become PPP’s hallmark. “Who are you to dictate Punjab? Keep your advice and deadlines in your pocket,” she remarked.
Azma Bokhari stated that Punjab’s local government elections will be transparent and public-driven, “unlike the bogus elections held in Karachi.”
Commenting on the water issue, she said, “Your slogan of ‘My water, my choice’ is exactly like ‘Marsoon 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.”
She said that if PPP was not fearful of Maryam Nawaz’s growing popularity, they wouldn’t have felt the need to hold a press conference on a holiday.
She questioned whether PPP or the Sindh government had contributed even a single penny to help Punjab’s flood victims – “No, instead they sent taunts and staged a spectacle over their misery.”
Azma Bokhari stressed that “This is Punjab – not Sindh – where work that takes years elsewhere is completed within days.” She informed that in Punjab, compensation cheques have already started reaching those flood victims whose surveys have been completed. “Those receiving relief are praying for Maryam Nawaz and thanking her. Try looking at Punjab without the lens of hatred and prejudice,” she concluded.