Atiq Mir Clarifies Remarks on Sindh’s Leadership and Maryam Nawaz

KARACHI:Tensions rose after a statement made by prominent business leader Atiq Mir regarding Sindh’s leadership, which was misinterpreted by several political figures.*

In a recent meeting with Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal in Karachi, Atiq Mir had jokingly suggested that Maryam Nawaz be brought to Sindh while retaining Murad Ali Shah as the Chief Minister of the province. The comment sparked a strong reaction from Sindh’s government officials.

Sadia Javed, the spokesperson for the Sindh government, quickly dismissed the statement, calling it a “pre-rehearsed” remark and asserting that no flattery could alter the ground realities. She emphasized that Murad Ali Shah was the elected Chief Minister and that the comments by the business leader were an insult to the people’s mandate.

Another government spokesperson, Sukhdev Asridas Hamnani, added that one businessman’s opinion did not reflect the thoughts of the entire business community. He further stated that the performance of Sindh’s Chief Minister was aligned with the manifesto of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and no single opinion could change the facts.

In response to the backlash from the PPP, Atiq Mir took to social media to clarify his remarks. In a video statement, he explained that his comment about Maryam Nawaz was made in jest. He clarified that he had not intended to comment on any municipal performance, stating, “Maryam Nawaz isn’t exactly known for setting any performance benchmarks there.”

Mir also humorously remarked that the situation surrounding Maryam Nawaz mirrored the behavior of her father and uncle, saying, “Don’t look at our work, just observe our arrivals and departures.”