PPP’s Nisar Khuhro takes swipe at Punjab CM’s remarks on canals issue

PPP Sindh President Senator Nisar Khuhro on Saturday criticized Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s remarks about the contentious canals issue by terming it a violation of the decision made by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). 

The diatribe between PPP and PML-N government Punjab started over flood compensation and water rights on the Indus River as CM Maryam told the PPP leadership to keep its advice to itself. In a statement issued on Saturday, the PPP senator said her remarks regarding the controversial canal project were a violation of the CCI’s decision and an insult to the constitutional forum.

The PPP demanded that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif take notice of her remarks and clarify the party’s policy. It also demanded that the Punjab government disclose the aid provided to flood victims. The six-canals project had turned out to be a cause of contention between Punjab and Sindh, which are governed by the PML-N and PPP, respectively. Approval for the project was denied at the CCI after protests following the initiative’s launch by CM Maryam and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The CCI has already rejected and buried the controversial canal project, reiterated the PPP leader. Khuhro said Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz was not above the CCI’s constitutional forum and Maryam Nawaz holds no standing alone against the CCI. He said it was the CCI’s unanimous decision that no canal project would be built until all provinces agreed, adding that Sindh would not accept the project under any circumstances.

Khuhro further said that Maryam was violating the forum’s decision and insulting it with her remarks about the project, adding that she lacks political wisdom thus criticising a constitutional forum.

The senator said Nawaz was the PML-N’s leader and should take notice of his daughter’s remarks and clarify the party’s stance on the issue.