Peshawar (The COW News Digial )Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has strongly criticized Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over her recent remarks on security threats, alleging that her statement effectively gave Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India a “clean chit” while placing the blame for terrorism on other provinces.
Reacting to Maryam Nawaz’s comments, Sohail Afridi said the statement could damage Pakistan’s position in the international fight against terrorism. He described the remarks as discriminatory and argued that portraying three provinces as the source of terrorism reflected a mindset that could deepen divisions within the country.
The KP chief minister maintained that terrorism was a national challenge requiring collective efforts from all provinces and institutions. He warned that statements targeting particular provinces could weaken national unity and undermine Pakistan’s broader narrative on counterterrorism.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari rejected Sohail Afridi’s criticism, saying that political attacks against Punjab could not conceal weaknesses in the performance of other provincial governments.
Bukhari said the Punjab government was working to strengthen the capabilities of law-enforcement agencies and improve the province’s security infrastructure. She argued that instead of criticizing Punjab’s security policies, other provincial governments should focus on addressing their own administrative and security challenges.
The controversy follows remarks made by Maryam Nawaz during the launch ceremony of an Artificial Intelligence Hub in Lahore. The Punjab chief minister said the people of Punjab were looking toward the provincial government for protection and that billions of rupees were being spent to strengthen security in the province.
Maryam said Punjab faced a greater security threat from neighboring provinces than from neighboring countries. She also referred to the riverine region, commonly known as the Kacha area, saying it had remained a center of criminal activity for decades.
According to Maryam, the security situation in the Kacha region had improved with the assistance of the military and the Sindh government. She added that threats were also emerging from border areas of the province and said joint check posts were being strengthened to address those challenges.
She further stated that the newly established intelligence hub would serve as an important platform for improving coordination and information-sharing among security institutions.
The exchange between the two provincial governments highlights growing political differences over security policy, terrorism and the distribution of responsibility for counterterrorism efforts across Pakistan
