Uzma Bukhari Hits Back at KP’s Muzzammil Aslam Over Criticism of Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari lashed out at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Advisor Muzzammil Aslam, questioning his criticism of Punjab while ignoring his own province’s challenges.

Reacting strongly to Aslam’s remarks, Bukhari said: *“Everyone seems eager to point fingers at Punjab. Those who cannot manage their own province—where terrorism, corruption, lawlessness, and mismanagement are everyday realities—should not lecture us.”*

She pointed out that thousands of people in Buner, Swabi, and Swat were affected by floods, asking whether the KP government had provided them with adequate relief. *“Your Chief Minister writes letters to the federal government every month begging for funds, while boasting like Sheikh Chilli at the same time,”* she added.

Bukhari also reminded that two KP cabinet ministers had resigned, citing corruption stories of their own Chief Minister. In contrast, she said, Punjab had launched concrete relief efforts. *“In 27 districts, 1,857 teams are conducting surveys of flood victims, gathering data on farmers, houses, crops, and livestock,”* she noted.

Highlighting the scale of devastation, Bukhari said that **4.5 million people** had been affected by floods in Punjab, making it the largest survey in the province’s history. She assured that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz herself would visit every affected person to ensure assistance.

The minister further remarked: *“Maryam Nawaz is the daughter of a dignified leader; she will never beg for aid. Those who are used to living off donations and relief funds are the ones teaching others to do the same.”*