Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz launched a fresh attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday, stating that positive developments were emerging across the country—except from Adiala Jail, where PTI founder Imran Khan remains imprisoned.
“Good news is coming from everywhere in Pakistan, but only bad news is coming from Adiala Jail,” she remarked while addressing a public gathering in Narowal, her first since assuming office as chief minister.
Taking a jab at Imran Khan’s recent letters to Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, she claimed that the PTI founder was “pleading to be saved.”
The former prime minister, who has been in custody since August 2023, recently wrote three open letters to the army chief, arguing that he had no choice but to communicate this way after facing obstructions in democratic avenues. In these letters, he outlined six key points and urged the military to bridge the gap with the public through suggested reforms.
However, COAS Munir dismissed these claims, stating that he had not received any letter from Imran Khan. Even if he had, he asserted, he would not have read it and instead would have forwarded it to the prime minister. His remarks came during an informal conversation with journalists at a reception hosted for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During her speech, Maryam Nawaz criticized PTI’s governance, accusing it of widespread corruption. She alleged that Bushra Bibi and Farah Gogi were involved in bribery, stating, “Every official task required a bribe during PTI’s tenure.”
She further blamed the party for bringing Pakistan to the brink of economic collapse, claiming that despite their efforts to create financial instability, the economy was now stabilizing. “They left the economy in shambles, thinking we wouldn’t be able to fix it, but by the grace of God, we are moving towards recovery,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz also accused the PTI of worsening inflation and damaging diplomatic ties with friendly nations. She went on to highlight her government’s achievements over the past year, including infrastructure projects, sanitation initiatives, and welfare programs such as the Kissan Card, Himmat Card, Minority Card, and student scholarships.
Additionally, she announced the renovation of approximately 2,500 Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Punjab and the introduction of a home delivery service for medicines.
A day earlier, she asserted that Pakistan was poised for economic recovery despite opposition criticism. She condemned PTI for its “politics of chaos” and economic mismanagement.
Mocking PTI’s stance on infrastructure development, she said, “Some claim that roads don’t bring prosperity. But do protests and arson lead to development?”
She concluded by emphasizing that those who once hurled accusations were now behind bars, in a clear reference to Imran Khan’s incarceration at Adiala Jail.
