President Zardari Steps In to Defuse Tensions Between Sindh and Punjab

Islamabad: President **Asif Ali Zardari** has stepped in to ease growing tensions between the Sindh and Punjab governments, summoning **Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi** for urgent consultations on the matter.

According to sources at the Presidency, President Zardari spoke with Minister Naqvi over the phone to discuss the ongoing political rift between the two provincial administrations. The President has reportedly **called the Interior Minister to Karachi immediately** to help mediate and de-escalate the situation.

The move comes after **several days of verbal exchanges** between leaders from both provinces. The tension escalated following **Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s recent remarks**, which drew strong criticism from the **Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)**. In protest, PPP lawmakers **walked out of the National Assembly** and demanded an apology from the Punjab chief minister.

However, CM Maryam Nawaz stood firm, saying:

> “If anyone speaks against Punjab, I will respond as its chief minister and defend the people of my province. I owe no apology.”

Meanwhile, **Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon** challenged **Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari** to a public debate, which Bukhari accepted — saying she would showcase Punjab’s development projects over the past two years and invited Memon to do the same for Sindh’s 17-year rule.

Bukhari further said,

> “Come to Lahore — I’ll show you our progress in Bahawalpur, Multan, Lodhran, Rahim Yar Khan, and D.G. Khan. You can take me to Kashmore, Nawabshah, or Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to show what you’ve done.”

President Zardari’s intervention signals an effort to **prevent the inter-provincial dispute from deepening**, amid calls for unity and cooperation between coalition partners at the federal level.