In a display of political civility, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Governor Kamran Tessori have maintained a working relationship, regularly holding joint media addresses – the most recent on Sunday at Quaid's mausoleum.
Despite the fact that the MQM and PPP in Sindh share a political equation similar to that of the PML-N and PPP in Punjab, the latter remains locked in a cold war, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Punjab Governor Saleem Haider yet to be seen on the same platform.
Both provinces have near-identical political arrangements. In Sindh, the PPP, which holds the most seats, controls the provincial government, while the MQM, the third-largest party in the assembly, occupies the governorship.
Likewise, in Punjab, the PML-N governs with the most seats according to the ECP's declared results, while the PPP, technically the third-largest party by vote count, holds the governor's office.
However, while Sindh's leadership has shown the ability to break bread despite political differences, Punjab's ruling party remains unwilling to even extend a handshake.
The PML-N government has shown no such grace towards the executive head of the province.
Punjab's governor has repeatedly engaged the PML-N leadership over unmet promises to the PPP. Even Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has attended these meetings, but CM Maryam has consistently kept her distance, reinforcing the perception within PML-N ranks that engaging the PPP is beneath her.
A senior central Punjab leader and another party office-bearer went further, accusing Maryam of having "a serious ego problem". They claimed that, unlike Sindh, where political rivals maintain a working relationship, Maryam views herself as political royalty.
"Forget meeting the governor – she doesn't even extend the traditional courtesy of welcoming the president of Pakistan upon his arrival in Lahore," one leader pointed out, referring to a long-standing national practice.
Recently, she allegedly ordered her administration to remove posters, banners, and signboards
welcoming the president from outside Governor House – an act perceived as an assertion of authority.
A party leader familiar with the development disclosed that the governor's office had to personally intervene after the administration informed the PPP that the CM's office had ordered the removal of all such streamers and hoardings.
The PPP's provincial leadership has often criticised Maryam Nawaz but party insiders suggest that pressure from the top brass has forced them to exercise restraint.
A PPP leader claimed that Maryam was treated as the de facto head of PML-N, placing her on par with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. "Any direct criticism of her could invite immediate retaliation, with sharp counterattacks on Bilawal," the leader added.
This political reality reportedly compelled Governor Punjab to visit Maryam Nawaz's residence himself upon assuming office. "We understand that the governor is merely a PPP functionary while Maryam enjoys royal status within PML-N," a party leader quipped.
"But the CM's office should still respect the executive head of the province."
Maryam Nawaz has not attended coordination committee meetings between the PPP and PML-N, despite the fact that the PML-N delegation is led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Sources claim she considers herself the "PM-in-waiting," which is why she pays little attention to allies or their concerns.
Attempts were made to reach Information Minister Azma Bukhari for comment, but she remained unavailable.
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