Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari strongly criticized the PPP and accepted a debate challenge posed by Shuja Sherjeel Memon. She said she respects PPP as an ally, but they must speak carefully because “words have consequences.” She declared she would challenge them just as they challenge her.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, she claimed that Punjab has always acted as an elder brother to other provinces during crises. She said that when floods hit elsewhere, Punjab stepped up to help. However, she added that when Punjab faced its own hardships, it was not treated equally. She also noted that floods hit three major rivers and heavily affected Multan and Muzaffargarh, saying 25 districts still lack full incident reports.
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Azma Bukhari revealed that 4.7 million people were affected by floods in Punjab, and on October 17, financial aid checks will be distributed to victims. She said 400 villages have been surveyed so far. She also announced a Rs 15,000 salary raise for Civil Defence employees and asked that all extra government expenditures be cut.
Turning to her critics, she called out Nadeem Afzal Chan for holding multiple press conferences full of baseless accusations. She challenged him and others to prove what they have done for flood victims. She said Punjab must defend its record vigorously. She quipped that PPP has become “half partridge, half quail”—mixed and inconsistent.
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Finally, she repeated her debate challenge: “You tell me your 17 projects in 17 years, and I will show you Punjab’s progress.” She offered to take her opponents on a tour of Punjab — through Bahawalpur, Multan, Lodhran, DG Khan, and more — and invited them instead to show her the development in Nawabshah and Gadhi Khuda Bakhsh in Sindh.