Pakistan president steps in to defuse growing rift between Sindh, Punjab govts

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Karachi for an urgent meeting amid escalating tensions between the Sindh and Punjab governments, in a move seen as an effort to prevent a deeper political crisis within the ruling coalition.

The intervention follows days of political turmoil that saw Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stage a walkout from both the National Assembly and the Senate over disputes with its federal coalition partner, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The two sides have been locked in an increasingly bitter exchange over flood compensation and water rights linked to the controversial Cholistan canals project.

According to an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), the president held a telephone conversation with Interior Minister Naqvi on Monday and called him to Karachi for consultations on the worsening Sindh–Punjab standoff. Zardari, who also co-chairs the PPP, is expected to mediate between both provincial and federal leaders to restore calm within the fragile alliance.

Dispute over water and flood relief fuels rift

The dispute traces back to disagreements over flood relief funding but has since widened to broader concerns about water distribution from the Indus River.

Tensions flared after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reportedly told PPP leaders to “keep their advice to themselves,” a remark that triggered strong backlash from Sindh.

Outraged by what they termed “disrespect to provincial rights,” PPP lawmakers boycotted parliamentary proceedings last week and continued their protest on Monday. In both houses of parliament, the party accused the Punjab government of undermining Sindh and destabilizing the coalition.

In the Senate, PPP Senator Quratulain Marri warned that the growing rift between coalition partners could have “serious national implications,” describing PML-N’s stance as “a declaration of war against Sindh.” She alleged that the Punjab government was targeting the PPP “to weaken the Centre and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”

Echoing those concerns, senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman said the “war of words” between Punjab and Sindh was eroding the unity of the federal coalition. “If our leadership is not apologized to, remember the PPP is the largest party in the Senate — don’t take our support for granted,” she said before leading her party’s senators out of the chamber.

Calls for reconciliation amid political strain

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar responded that political disagreements were part of democratic life and assured lawmakers that water distribution would continue under the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) agreement. He praised Rehman for expressing her concerns “in a sophisticated manner,” adding that both Zardari and Nawaz Sharif were leaders known for “reconciliation rather than confrontation.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met his elder brother and party leader Nawaz Sharif over the weekend to discuss the escalating tensions with the PPP. Sources said Nawaz Sharif may reach out to President Zardari and other PPP leaders to help defuse the situation.

The now-shelved six-canal Cholistan project remains at the heart of the controversy. The project’s approval was blocked at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) after Sindh protested its launch by CM Maryam Nawaz and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, citing violations of interprovincial water rights.

Coalition stability under pressure

In the National Assembly, PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf declared that it was becoming “increasingly difficult” for his party to attend parliamentary sessions without assurances from Punjab, before leading another walkout of his party’s members. Both the National Assembly and Senate were later adjourned until Thursday evening after failing to meet quorum due to the PPP’s absence.

Political analysts say the Sindh-Punjab standoff poses one of the most serious tests yet for Pakistan’s coalition government. While President Zardari’s intervention may cool tempers in the short term, observers warn that continued public sparring could threaten the delicate power balance keeping the alliance together.