The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led coalition government in Sindh is bracing for a fresh setback as the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) has warned of parting ways with the government due to the “insulting remarks made by Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri against Pir Pagaro”.
The PML-F lawmakers, led by Marvi Rashdi, boycotted the Sindh Assembly session in protest on Thursday.
“Our MPAs and ministers would tender their resignations,” Rashdi told a post-session briefing outside the assembly building. “Nothing but an unconditional apology from Marri on the floor of the house would convince PML-F to reconsider its decision of leaving the coalition government.”
Rashdi said the sentiments of her party supporters were greatly hurt by the derogatory statement made by the PPP minister and that her party was unable to ignore those feelings.
The PML-F legislator said Jam Madad Ali was in Islamabad to discuss the future course of action.
The party is likely to make important announcements today (Friday).
“We are bearing with the personal attacks coming from the other side for the past four years. This is not democracy to disrespect the party leaders,” Rashdi maintained.
Meanwhile, the provincial information minister told Pakistan Today that she had not taken the name of Pir Pagaro in her briefing at all.
Marri added that keeping in mind the reconciliation policy, if the PML-F leader is upset over anything with her, she would not hesitate to apologise.
“My apologies for any hard feelings,” she said. “I respect Pir Sahib Pagara and appreciate the role of Hurs during the movement against the British.”
She said the PPP and PML-F might have different ideologies, but the parties had reconciled in the larger interest of democracy. “Reconciliation is not our weakness rather political sagacity,” she added.
