PTI Slams Maryam for Calling Neighbouring Province a Greater Threat Than India

Sheikh Waqas says PTI stands with people of Sindh on new province issue

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram strongly condemned Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s remarks that a neighbouring province posed a greater security threat to her than India, saying such statement was not only reckless but also exposed a disturbing tendency to view a national security challenge through the narrow lens of provincial politics.

In a statement issued by the PTI Central Media Department on Saturday, PTI CIS lashed out at Maryam Nawaz for what he called short-sightedness, narrow and self-centered political approach, saying her remarks reflected a disturbing tendency to view national security through the prism of personal, familial and provincial interests.

Speaking at an AI technology event in Lahore, Punjab Chief Minister said the province faced a greater security threat from “neighbouring provinces than from neighbouring countries”, stressing that terrorism entered Punjab through its provincial borders.

He reminded that the Sharif family had longstanding relations with influential Indian political and business families, with prominent Indian figures, including a Butcher of Gujarat attending Sharif family weddings, while influential figures on both sides had also maintained business partnerships and interests.

Waqas said that such selective political narratives were highly irresponsible, particularly at a time when terrorism remained a national challenge, with no part of the country completely safe from the threat. He stressed that combating terrorism required unity, collective responsibility and cooperation among all federating units, rather than attempts to pit one province against another or exploit the issue for narrow political and provincial interests.

However, PTI CIS recalled that such remarks were not unprecedented, pointing out that her uncle, Shehbaz Sharif, had also made a similarly narrow and reckless statement in the past when he appealed to militants to spare Punjab, which was deeply irresponsible.

Waqas said that PML-N was weakening the federation through its flawed and short-sighted policies, as its governments had carried out military operations and drone strikes in various parts of the country, further fuelling unrest instead of restoring normalcy and peace.

He said that rather than taking responsibility for the consequences of their failed policies, PML-N leadership was now going to the extent of sowing seeds of discord and division among the provinces, which is highly condemnable and intolerable.

Waqas said terrorism is a national threat that demands national unity, collective responsibility and a coordinated state response, rather than political point-scoring or the vilification of another province. He said Maryam’s remarks were an attempt to shift blame onto Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and unfairly portray its people as a threat, instead of acknowledging the sacrifices made by the province and its people in the fight against terrorism.

PTI CIS reminded Maryam Safdar that Pakistan’s security challenges cannot be addressed by blaming one province while ignoring the broader national and regional realities.

Waqas said that the country needed leadership capable of thinking beyond provincial boundaries and treating every Pakistani citizen equally. He said that, in the current circumstances, only PTI founder Imran Khan possessed the vision, national outlook and political understanding required to unite the country, strengthen the federation and address the challenges facing Pakistan without discrimination or narrow provincial considerations.

Talking about the ongoing debate over the creation of new provinces, Waqas questioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s silence on an important issue carrying far-reaching constitutional and political consequences. He asked why the Prime Minister had remained largely absent from a debate concerning the future administrative and political structure of the federation, while the Interior Minister had been dictating the federal government’s position on the issue for the past few months.

He questioned where Sharif-Zardari dynasties had disappeared at a time when such a consequential national issue required political leadership and decisive action. He said that the beneficiaries and products of Form-47 lacked the independence and political legitimacy required to take major national decisions on their own, arguing that they remained constrained by narrow political interests rather than acting in the broader national interest.

Waqas also praised the people of Sindh for their overwhelming response to PTI’s street-mobilization campaign, saying their enthusiastic participation was a clear demonstration of their love, respect and unwavering support for PTI founder Imran Khan and the party.

He declared that PTI would continue to stand firmly with the people of Sindh, particularly on the issue of creating new provinces, stressing that the incumbent governments do not have the legitimate mandate to make such decisions.

He said that PTI supports the creation of smaller administrative units under the prevailing circumstances, but added that the party would not take any further step on the matter until it had met with or consulted PTI founder Imran Khan.

PTI CIS said that Imran Khan’s political position remained clear and principled, stressing that PTI would continue pursuing its stated objectives through constitutional, democratic and peaceful means. He reaffirmed that the party would stand with the people of every province and remain committed to strengthening the federation through equality, political rights, democracy and national unity.