By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Member of the National Assembly Ali Qasim Gilani has accused the Punjab government of launching a confrontation against the PPP to divert public attention from the devastating flood situation in South Punjab.
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Addressing a press conference at the Peoples Secretariat, Model Town, alongside PPP Central Punjab Secretary Information Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Ali Sanwal, Aqila Yousaf, Faiza Malik, and Bushra Manzoor Maneka, Gilani said, “You think Punjab ends after Jhang. If Multan, Bahawalpur, and DG Khan are not part of Punjab, then we have no reason to talk.”
He said the government now sees the PPP, not the PTI, as its main political rival. “It is not our duty to praise the Punjab government. We acknowledged their efforts in Muzaffargarh, but they crossed the line with hateful propaganda, raids, and personal attacks. The PPP has every right to respond.”
Gilani revealed that the party has submitted its demands to the federation and will await the decision of the PPP Central Executive Committee meeting later this month. “We are used to kicking big chairs — these are small ones,” he quipped, hinting that PPP leadership will decide whether to sit in government or opposition.
Taking a jab at Uzma Bukhari, he asked how many press conferences were held before September 25. “Bilawal Bhutto provided tents worth Rs70 million in Kasur and Multan, and Rs25 million in Muzaffargarh. We feed 500 people daily in Bahawalnagar. We were never taught the politics of hate and division.”
He said the Punjab government had even taken back tents and cots distributed among flood victims. “When we question this injustice, they call us beggars. If security has been withdrawn for raising the voice of South Punjab, it is an honour,” he added, noting that even Ali Haider Gilani’s security had been withdrawn despite his past kidnapping by TTP and Al-Qaeda.
Gilani demanded that Punjab immediately implement the National Disaster Act, saying the current floods are worse than before. “People in Jalalpur Pirwala are asking if they drowned due to a natural calamity or government negligence,” he remarked, adding that the bridge used by the Chief Minister for her address was originally built by the PPP.
He criticized the government for ignoring South Punjab, saying, “Lahore is the heart of Punjab, but please look at Layyah, Alipur, and Muzaffargarh too.”
Speaking on the occasion, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Shahzad Saeed Cheema said that while Sindh fought for black Punjab’s farmers, the Punjab government is squeezing its own by computerizing irrigation without consulting stakeholders. He said, “The Information Minister should answer 45 serious issues instead of taking 32 names of PPP leaders. Such childish behaviour is unacceptable.”
Cheema added that even for the Benazir Income Support Program, flood victims are being forced to provide unnecessary evidence, while genuine farmers are left out of the assistance plan.
PPP MNA Ali Qasim Gilani accused the Punjab government of targeting his party to distract from flood mismanagement, saying millions in South Punjab are still suffering. He criticized security withdrawals and failure to implement the National Disaster Act, while Shahzad Cheema slammed the Punjab government for sidelining farmers and PPP-led relief efforts.
