Marriyum Aurangzeb defends Punjab CM over jet use, terrorism remarks

• Maryam’s popularity, performance real issue for opponent: minister.
• Marriyum says critics fuelling provincial divisions, demands apology.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly condemns chief minister's remarks.
  

Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday responded to criticism of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for using a government jet for her private London visit and her terrorism remarks, accusing the opponents of twisting her statement to spread hatred. 

In a post on X, the senior minister said that the issue was not the use of the aircraft or the chief minister’s remarks, “but her performance and growing popularity”.

“These days, the issue is not with the plane trouble or Maryam Nawaz's statement; the real trouble is with Maryam Nawaz's performance and her rising popularity,” Marriyum posted.

The chief minister is being criticised over the alleged use of a government jet for her London visit last week, after her youngest daughter, Mahnoor Safdar, graduated from SOAS University of London in Anthropology.

The senior minister said that Maryam would personally bear the expenses of the visit. “It has been clearly stated that the expenses for the London trip must be borne by Maryam Nawaz herself,” she added.

Without mentioning Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Marriyum also said those using the chief minister's remarks to spread hatred among provinces and create divisions within the country should apologise to the public.

The statement came in response to the criticism over the chief minister’s remark in which she said that Punjab was facing a greater security threat from neighbouring provinces than from neighbouring countries.

Earlier on Friday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed a resolution by a majority condemning Maryam for her “biased statement” about provinces.

The resolution moved by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Aftab Alam read, “the House condemned Maryam Nawaz, Rana Sanaullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, and Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari for linking KP and other provinces to terrorism in Punjab and for making irresponsible statements”.

“This House believes such statements are not only contrary to facts, irresponsible and driven by political interests, but also an insult to the people, police and security personnel of the province who have rendered sacrifices in the war against terrorism,” the resolution stated. It said politicising a national and sensitive issue like terrorism and pitting one province against another was against national unity and the federal spirit.

“Terrorism is not an issue of one province or region but a challenge for the entire state and nation, which can only be tackled through national unity, mutual trust and a joint strategy.”