Islamabad — The simmering tension between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) escalated on Tuesday, as senior PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman cautioned that without her party’s “clear support,” the government could face serious challenges in the Senate.
The PPP Vice President said, “If you wish to break this alliance, let me remind you that our presence on the government benches should not be taken for granted. Don’t assume we will always keep you stable.”
She emphasized that the PPP remains the largest party in the Senate, adding that “without our explicit support, it will become very difficult for the government to move legislation forward.”
Rehman voiced concern over recent remarks made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, which she said targeted PPP leadership unnecessarily. “Forgiveness is one thing, but when you attack our leadership — our Chairman and his sister — it hurts our workers and voters deeply,” she said.
The PPP leader rejected suggestions that the ongoing disagreement was a provincial matter between Sindh and Punjab. “This isn’t Sindh versus Punjab. It’s about the federation and the people. Flood victims across Pakistan deserve help, not political point-scoring,” she said.
Rehman also defended former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s performance, reminding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself had praised Bilawal’s diplomatic efforts in the past.
When asked if the PPP would consider moving to opposition benches, she said such a decision would rest with the party’s Central Executive Committee, stressing that the PPP “does not wish to destabilize the government.”
Meanwhile, PPP Senator Palwasha Khan warned Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz that “the time will come when you will once again need Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari.” She added that popularity cannot be earned through “banners or TikTok campaigns” but through real performance.
Responding in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz defended her statements, saying, “If I don’t talk about Punjab, who will? I want every province to be as clean and developed as Punjab.”
Her remarks were seen as a subtle swipe at PPP’s governance record in Sindh.
