Governor's letter sparks row

Express Tribune

a day ago

An open letter from Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif urging calamity-hit status for flood-affected districts has triggered a strong public response from the provincial government, marking the latest instance of political back-and-forth between coalition partners Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP).
Governor Khan, a PPP appointee, wrote an open letter asking the provincial administration to declare Chakwal, Jhelum, and Hafizabad as calamity-hit areas. Following visits to the affected regions, he described extensive damage to roads, bridges, and homes, and urged immediate aid and official designation to accelerate rehabilitation.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari responded publicly, suggesting the letter bypassed administrative norms. She said relief operations were already under way and led directly by the chief minister. "There was no need for a public letter," she said. "If you truly want to raise the issue, write to your own party or the federal leadership."
She pointed out that Maryam Nawaz had already visited Chakwal and issued orders for relief efforts. Bukhari implied the governor's letter was more about optics than urgency, dismissing it as a symbolic gesture that added little to the ground response.
In the letter to the chief minister regarding the recent heavy rains in Punjab and the damage caused by flood after his visit to the affected areas of Chakwal, Jhelum and Hafizabad, the governor called for declaring the areas as disaster hit.
It called steps to repair the damage caused by the flood as soon as possible, pointing out that life in the affected cities had been severely affected. Bridges connecting cities have been broken and roads washed away, causing difficulties for the people. The houses, livestock and valuables of people have been washed away in the flood, the governor stated.
This latest exchange is part of a familiar pattern between the governor and the provincial administration. In November last year, Governor Khan had criticised both the PML-N-led federal and Punjab governments over their handling of a PTI-led protest march. He condemned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister's use of state machinery for the rally but also questioned the Punjab government's preparedness and criticised the federal response, including the widespread use of shipping containers to block roads.
Bukhari, in turn, questioned the governor's priorities and suggested he seemed more focused on opposition politics. She credited Maryam Nawaz's leadership for discouraging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activities in Punjab during that period.
The two sides also disagreed over appointments in higher education. Governor Khan objected to receiving only one nominee per university for vice chancellor's positions, in contrast to the required three-candidate shortlist. "My office is not a post office," he said, insisting legal protocols must be observed.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz defended the process, saying the selections were based on merit and had been thoroughly reviewed. She said any objections should be raised in writing to avoid administrative miscommunication. The information minister later denied claims that the chief minister had accused the governor of lobbying for specific candidates.
While the tone of these exchanges has at times turned sharp, political observers view them as routine friction within the framework of coalition politics. Many of these episodes are seen as attempts at public point scoring rather than signs of deep division.