K-P Assembly blasts Maryam remarks

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday passed a resolution by majority vote condemning remarks attributed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz about the provinces and demanded action against her under Article 6 of the Constitution. The assembly session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, took up the issue after Law Minister Aftab Alam sought suspension of the routine agenda to debate Maryam Nawaz's statement. The house approved the motion, despite opposition members objecting to the suspension of the agenda. Provincial Housing Minister Dr Amjad said Maryam Nawaz's remarks were insulting and reflected ignorance. He questioned whether people from K-P, including Maryam Nawaz's husband Captain Safdar and PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam, should also be labelled terrorists if her remarks were interpreted as referring to people of the province. Information Minister Shafi Jan, Local Government Minister Mena Khan, Special Assistant for Tourism Malik Adil and Shafiullah also criticised the statement. They alleged that political and security-related incidents involving national leaders had occurred in Punjab, while K-P and its people were being blamed for terrorism. The treasury members further said they would proceed with their planned September 27 march to Islamabad despite any attempts to stop it, saying they were prepared to face disqualification or other consequences. PML-N lawmaker Amina Sardar rejected the treasury benches' allegations and said the debate had unnecessarily escalated a statement. She maintained that Maryam Nawaz had referred to terrorism, not the Pashtun people, and condemned terrorism occurring in K-P. She said soldiers and security personnel from across Pakistan came to K-P and sacrificed their lives while defending the country, adding that such sacrifices should not be politicised. The resolution presented by Law Minister Aftab Alam strongly condemned Maryam Nawaz's statements, describing them as contrary to facts, politically motivated and insulting to the sacrifices of K-P's people, police and security forces. It said associating terrorism with a particular province or political party could damage national unity and federal cohesion. The resolution demanded that the federal government initiate action against Maryam Nawaz in accordance with Article 6.