ISLAMABAD / KARACHI; President Asif Ali Zardari has stepped in to ease the growing political tensions between the Sindh and Punjab governments amid an escalating war of words between leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
According to sources, President Zardari met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at Bilawal House in Karachi, where the two held detailed discussions on the current political situation and the verbal clashes between the two ruling coalition partners.
During the meeting, the President instructed the Interior Minister to play an active role in reducing political friction and enhancing coordination between the provinces at the federal level. Mohsin Naqvi briefed the President on the overall law and order situation in the country and the state of inter-provincial cooperation.
The meeting also touched upon PPP’s political grievances that emerged following certain administrative decisions by the Punjab caretaker setup and subsequent statements from both sides that intensified tensions.
Sources said President Zardari advised PPP leaders to exercise caution in their public statements, emphasizing the need to maintain coalition unity.
The PPP and PML-N — two key partners in the ruling coalition — have recently exchanged sharp words over issues of governance, allocation of development funds, and administrative powers.
Friction intensified after the Punjab government’s decisions regarding transfers, postings, and budgetary priorities, which PPP leaders claimed sidelined their party’s input.
In response, PML-N figures criticized PPP’s governance in Sindh, particularly on law and order and service delivery, leading to public sparring between the two allies.
In light of this growing rift, President Zardari’s mediation is seen as an attempt to stabilize coalition ties and prevent political disagreements from escalating further at a time when the government faces multiple national challenges.
Furthermore, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon his return from Karachi. PM Shehbaz is scheduled to return from his official visit to Malaysia later tonight. The meeting between Naqvi and the Prime Minister is expected to focus on the evolving political situation, law and order, and federal-provincial coordination.
