Maryam Nawaz’s ‘chauvinistic’ remarks spark uproar over Pakistan’s provincial divide

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is facing a growing backlash after saying Punjab faced a greater security threat from other Pakistani provinces than from neighboring countries. Critics say the remarks risk widening an already sensitive provincial divide.

Maryam made the comments at the e-launching ceremony of an Artificial Intelligence Hub in Lahore. Opposition figures, particularly from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, accused her of targeting Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and undermining harmony among Pakistan’s provinces.

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break Pakistan apart

In a post on X, PTI said the remarks showed an intention to “break Pakistan apart”. The party called it “extremely regrettable and irresponsible” for a provincial leader to describe neighboring provinces within Pakistan as a threat. It said such language fuels hatred against fellow citizens and threatens the foundations of the federation.

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extremely regrettable and irresponsible

PTI also criticized what it described as the Sharif family’s approach toward India and smaller provinces. The party argued that if a country’s own provinces and people begin to appear as “enemies and threats”, the problem lies in the government’s mindset and priorities, not in those neighboring provinces.

Ammar Ali Jan, Punjab chief organizer of Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan, and the group’s information secretary, Shayan Bashir, also condemned the remarks. They said blaming Pakistan’s own provinces for terrorism was “not merely regrettable but dangerous” and called for the chief minister to withdraw comments they said insulted areas that had borne the brunt of terrorism.

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not merely regrettable but dangerous