LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday criticised Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for what she described as his support for those backing terrorism, saying she had not expected such a stance from a senior politician who had himself been a victim of terrorist violence. In a statement on X, she said it was regrettable that Maulana Fazl was defending those she held responsible for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s decline through incompetence, mismanagement and corruption, rather than demanding accountability from them. She questioned whether those being defended had attended even a single funeral of a terrorism victim during their 13 years in power. Instead, she alleged, they had sheltered militants, supported them and provided resources, safe havens and territory from which to launch attacks against Pakistan.
The chief minister accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of damaging the lives of people in KP, wasting the province’s resources on sit-ins and protests, and allowing 13 years to be lost to corruption and incompetence.
Taking exception to Maulana Fazl’s remarks about the army chief, Maryam Nawaz said his words had hurt patriotic Pakistanis. She praised the military leadership for what she described as Pakistan’s historic victory in Marka-e-Haq and said the country had earned the distinction of protecting the Haramain Sharifain under its leadership.She said Pakistan Army officers and soldiers continued to sacrifice their lives in the fight against terrorism, with families receiving the bodies of their loved ones wrapped in the national flag. Instead of honouring the fallen and standing with the armed forces, she said, supporting those who obstructed efforts to eliminate terrorism was unbecoming of Maulana Fazl. The chief minister also pointed out that the JUI-F had itself suffered from terrorism and lost party members in militant attacks. She said those Maulana Fazl was supporting had previously used inappropriate language against him and launched personal attacks on him.
“ For victims of terrorism to stand with those who back terrorism is, at the very least, beyond my comprehension,” she said, questioning the JUI-F chief’s position.
The chief minister concluded by saying that PTI itself was responsible for the end of its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rejecting any suggestion that others were to blame for the party’s loss of power in the province.
