PTI’s long march swallowed its own government, says Maryam

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of undermining its own government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through repeated protests and long marches. She said the party’s government was not removed by anyone else but had brought its own difficulties upon itself.

Addressing a public gathering in Sahiwal on Friday, Maryam described PTI’s long march as an unusual political move that had ultimately harmed the party’s own government. She said, “This is the first long march that has swallowed its own government,” criticising the party’s political strategy and repeated demonstrations.

The Punjab chief minister alleged that resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which should have been spent on public welfare and development, had instead been used for sit-ins and protests. She expressed hope that the province would now focus more on development and public services.

Maryam also criticised PTI’s claims that it had politically educated and empowered the public. She said that those who claimed to have raised public awareness had instead damaged people’s lives through their policies and political activities.

She added that residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would now have the opportunity to see what development meant in practical terms. Her remarks came amid growing political tensions over the federal government’s decision to impose emergency measures and governor’s rule in the province.

Comparing the development pace in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Maryam said Punjab was moving towards modern technology, including artificial intelligence, while KP was lagging behind. She questioned how one province could become involved in confrontations with another province or the federal government.

The chief minister also highlighted the development projects associated with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. She said that many universities she visited in Punjab had been established during his governments, while several roads she travelled on had also been constructed under his leadership.

Maryam maintained that political recognition should not determine the value of development work. She said that even if political opponents refused to acknowledge Nawaz Sharif’s contribution, the projects completed during his governments remained part of the province’s development record.