Linking Counterterrorism Efforts to Provincialism Is Highly Condemnable, Says Maryam Aurangzeb

LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has strongly condemned criticism of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s remarks regarding counterterrorism measures, saying that portraying her statement in a negative manner and distorting its context was a highly deplorable attempt.

In a clarification posted on social media platform X, Maryam Aurangzeb said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had been discussing ongoing measures against terrorism and the risks posed by the movement of terrorists from one province to another.

She clarified that the chief minister had merely highlighted the threat posed by the inter-provincial movement of terrorists and its potential impact on law and order. However, she said, political opponents deliberately gave the remarks a provincial and ethnic color for the “cheap purpose of political point-scoring.”

وزیراعلی پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کی دہشت گردی کے خلاف اقدامات کے حوالے سے گفتگو کو سوشل میڈیا پر منفی انداز میں پیش کیا جانا نہایت افسوسناک اور تمام گفتگو کے تناظر کو مسخ کرکے پیش کرنے کی مذموم اور قابل مذمت کوشش ہے۔ وزیراعلی پنجاب نے دہشت گردوں کی بین الصوبائی نقل و حرکت اور اس سے…

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 6, 2026

Maryam Aurangzeb said Maryam Nawaz Sharif deeply respected all provinces of Pakistan as well as all communities and citizens living across the country.

She added that those attempting to give the statement an ethnic dimension were, in fact, facilitating terrorists and seeking to create divisions among the nation.

The senior minister stressed that linking the sensitive national security issue of counterterrorism with provincialism was an extremely disgraceful and regrettable approach.

She said the Punjab government would continue to play its positive and effective role in preventing terrorism in coordination with all provinces and national institutions.