Maryam Nawaz Condemns PTI's Political Drama Amidst Climate Calls

Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz criticized former PM Imran Khan's PTI for orchestrating protests and misusing state resources. Accusing PTI of creating chaos, she highlighted the negative global image and underscored the smog crisis in Lahore, urging climate diplomacy with India during a recent event.

In a sharp critique, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz denounced Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI), the party founded by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, for its ongoing attempts to organize protests in Islamabad and Lahore. Addressing the unveiling of the 'CM Climate Leadership Development Internship Programme', Nawaz accused PTI of failing to spread 'political smog' within the country, according to GeoTV.

Nawaz lambasted the former ruling party, alleging that it fosters a culture of protests in an already financially troubled Pakistan. She claimed that PTI had been exploiting resources from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state to fuel its protests, including using government personnel and official vehicles to rally in Islamabad. Noteworthily, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, a staunch supporter of Khan, has steadfastly championed PTI even as Khan faces trials for various allegations, including the notorious Toshakhana case and controversies surrounding his marriage to Bushra Bibi.

Throughout her speech, Nawaz asserted, 'PTI's agenda is to create chaos. They neither work nor allow others to work,' highlighting the detrimental impact of such protests on Pakistan's global perception. She questioned the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government while addressing the broader theme of the event, which focused on pollution and Lahore's smog crisis. Nawaz emphasized the dire situation in Lahore, one of the world's most polluted cities, and advocated for climate diplomacy with India. She noted government measures to monitor smoke-emitting vehicles and condition their fitness certifications, as reported by GeoTv and ANI news agencies.

(With inputs from agencies.)