Islamabad: The leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has successfully intervened to mediate peace between two senior party figures, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, following a heated exchange in the National Assembly last week.

The rift came to light when Hanif Abbasi launched a scathing verbal assault on Khawaja Asif during a parliamentary session. Without naming him directly, Abbasi criticized Asif for his repeated discontent with the government’s performance, suggesting that if he was so dissatisfied, he should move over to the opposition benches. His remarks were seen as a thinly veiled reference to Asif’s candid critiques of the ruling setup.

Khawaja Asif, for his part, had made serious allegations against senior civil administrators, claiming they had transferred vast amounts of assets abroad and secured Portuguese citizenship. Sources suggested his anger was partly fueled by the arrest of a district official in Punjab and dissatisfaction with certain appointments. He also criticized a recently elected senator, accusing him of buying his way into the upper house of parliament, despite the senator’s reputation as the head of a successful construction firm known for delivering major projects across Pakistan.

Tensions further escalated when Asif blamed the same construction company for infrastructure failures in his constituency, where recent heavy rains and flooding had devastated local life.

Hanif Abbasi, meanwhile, was handpicked by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to oversee major infrastructure projects in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including the Metro Bus Service and Pakistan’s largest intercity interchange. His visible criticism of Asif in parliament was widely interpreted as a reflection of Punjab’s government stance and, indirectly, the Prime Minister’s displeasure. Opposition benches seized on the clash, framing it as a significant rift within the ruling PML-N and evidence of a fraternal power struggle.

However, senior PML-N leaders stepped in to defuse the situation, urging both men to set aside personal grievances at a time when national unity and stability are paramount. They reminded the two that political opponents could exploit such internal disputes to the party’s detriment.

Interestingly, Khawaja Asif refrained from retaliating in kind to Abbasi’s sharp criticism, despite his reputation for being an articulate and combative speaker. Party sources confirmed that both leaders have now agreed to focus on their respective responsibilities and avoid public remarks that could fuel perceptions of division within the party.

Meanwhile, internal discord is not limited to PML-N. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is also embroiled in a new phase of internal strife. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, has begun positioning herself as an alternative leader, reportedly targeting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Their feud has played out prominently on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), and has spilled over into public statements. This, despite Imran Khan’s repeated appeals to his party to put aside infighting, indicates a growing leadership crisis within PTI.

The contrasting scenarios highlight a broader trend in Pakistan’s political landscape: ruling and opposition parties alike are struggling with internal divisions, even as the country faces pressing economic and governance challenges.