Punjab faces greater terror threat from other provinces than neighbouring countries, says Maryam Nawaz

Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Saturday said her province faces a greater threat from terrorism through its borders with other Pakistani provinces than from neighbouring countries, triggering criticism from political opponents.

Speaking at an event in Lahore, Maryam said terrorism was entering Punjab through its provincial borders and claimed the province remained a target despite having largely avoided the scale of violence seen elsewhere in Pakistan.

“Unfortunately, the threat Punjab, a province of 130 million, faces comes less from my neighbouring countries and more from my neighbouring provinces,” she said.

Although she referred broadly to Punjab’s provincial borders, Maryam appeared to be mainly referring to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has witnessed a significant rise in militant violence in recent years.

“Terrorism enters Punjab from there. Everyone has their eyes on Punjab, but, thank God, Punjab remains safe,” she said, adding that the province faced threats along all its provincial borders.

Pakistan has experienced a resurgence in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Punjab also shares an international border with India.

PTI leaders condemn Punjab CM’s remarks

Maryam’s comments drew a strong response from leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

National Assembly Speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qaisar described her remarks about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as “insulting”. They accused the Punjab leadership of mocking a province that has suffered heavily from terrorism.

He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had borne the consequences of what he called failed government policies, while its police force had made major sacrifices in the fight against militancy.

Qaisar said the families of security personnel killed in the violence deserved recognition and support rather than criticism.

Former lawmaker and National Democratic Movement president Mohsin Dawar also hit back at Maryam, arguing that Punjab’s political elite had played a role in creating the conditions behind the militant violence now affecting the province.

“The terrorism that you are now describing as a threat to Punjab was, in fact, engineered by your own Punjabi elite,” Dawar said.

The remarks are likely to add to longstanding political and regional tensions between Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where perceptions of unequal treatment and responsibility for Pakistan’s security crisis have frequently fuelled resentment.

With inputs from agencies