Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday said that while his party was not part of ministries or power-sharing, it continued to stand with the government during the ongoing flood crisis.
“We are not in the ministries, but we stand with the government. We are not power-sharing, but we stand with the [flood] victims,” he said, recalling that the PPP had also supported the previous government before parting ways.
Addressing a presser, Kaira said questions raised on flood response needed to be answered. He urged that dissent, criticism and protest should remain within democratic limits, adding that leaders should avoid the language of the past that had harmed the political process.
He pointed to the Charter of Democracy as a lesson from past mistakes and credited PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for showing restraint in handling matters.
Calling the recent floods “terrible”, Kaira said lives had been lost and homes destroyed. “If the government of the time did good work, we supported it. If the Sindh government did good work, everyone praised it,” he added. He maintained that where mistakes occurred, the PPP would give its opinion, criticise if not heard, and protest if ignored.
Kaira said the party would present immediate and long-term remedies for Punjab and warned against intolerance to criticism. “They say they will not allow anyone to speak. They say they will break the finger that points,” he remarked.
He denied that the PPP had raised unfitting questions against the PML-N government, saying the party had only given its views, which were met with targeting of the Sindh government. He also rejected allegations against the PPP over electricity subsidies and IMF dealings.
Kaira said the PPP had remained active in relief work, with Bilawal Bhutto visiting Kasur, meeting affected families and farmers, and praising the Punjab chief minister for her efforts. He said Bilawal thanked the chief minister through Marriyum Aurangzeb, spoke to the prime minister, and demanded immediate relief through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
He said the PPP had suggested Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 as initial cash support for victims, stressing that BISP was a globally recognised programme and not limited to the PPP. “It is the number-one programme worldwide to fight poverty,” he said.
Kaira said disagreements should remain proportionate. Addressing the Punjab chief minister, he said, “You are a woman, our sister, our daughter, respected. But the tone you use is the same as in the past. You are not just the chief minister of Punjab, you are Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and a senior leader of your party. Saying you will not allow anyone to speak or will break hands is completely inappropriate.”
He warned against narrow nationalism and said political leaders should act to strengthen the federation. “I consider the whole of Pakistan my share,” he said, adding that leaders’ words should serve to bind the federation.
Kaira said the prime minister had already declared agricultural and environmental emergencies. He called on developed countries to accept responsibility for climate disasters and share the burden. “When we ask for help, are we begging, or are we demanding our right?” he said.
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