'India Card Has Been Played': Maryam Nawaz's Govt Clarifies Her Security Threat Remark Amid Backlash

Pakistan’s Punjab government has stepped in to clarify a recent remark by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz about a security threat. This comes after Nawaz’s comments triggered a debate on social media.

Pakistan’s Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the Chief Minister’s remarks on terrorism had been taken out of context and given an unnecessary political and provincial angle.

“There is an unnecessary storm in a teacup on social media over a statement by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where a concern expressed by the Chief Minister regarding terrorism has been inappropriately, disgustingly, and shoddily given a provincial and political color, said Bukhari.

The Information Minister maintained that the CM was aware that Pakistan was not facing

a threat from a neighbouring country. “Maryam Nawaz knows that Pakistan is not under threat from the neighboring country,” she added.

She also cited the Pakistan Army’s recent performance, saying, “Pakistan Army has proven this fact; the Pakistan Army has shown the entire world the Battle of Haq in its favor,” she stated.

The Pakistani Minister further highlighted steps taken by the Punjab government to strengthen internal security. She said the Crime Control Department (CCD), tasked with maintaining law and order across Punjab and monitoring terrorists and banned organisations, had been reconstituted by the Chief Minister.

“The CCD, which is a crime control agency responsible for maintaining law and order across the entirety of Punjab and keeping an eye on terrorists and banned organizations, has been reconstituted by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif,” she remarked.

Bukhari said Nawaz had made the remarks while inaugurating the AI Hub, where she was referring to threats posed by terrorists entering Punjab from other provinces rather than any neighbouring country.

“During the inauguration of the AI Hub, she stated that the threat comes not from the neighboring country but from terrorists entering from other provinces,” she further stated.

Questioning the controversy surrounding the statement, Bukhari added, “I don’t understand what the objection is to this; the India card has been played on this statement.”