While speaking in Punjabi, Maryam denies playing ‘Punjab Card’

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz came down hard on her political opponents over allegations that she had been using the “Punjab Card” in an attempt to woo the people of the province.

Addressing a rally in Wazirabad ahead of PP-51 by-polls, Maryam dismissed the assertion that she was promoting regional politics by addressing the public gatherings in Punjabi. However, she insisted that she would not hesitate to raise the issues of the people of the province.

“Whenever I speak in Punjabi, I am criticised for using Punjab card… I am daughter of Punjab and will continue to speak for the rights of people,” she said. “I am daughter of Pakistan as well and whenever people in any area of the country face any issue, I will raise my voice for them too,” she added.

“But when it comes to snatching Punjab’s bread and flour and hike in the price of Punjab’s sugar, Maryam will stand with Punjabis with her heart and soul,” she said, while speaking in Urdu, interspersed with Punjabi.

The PML-N leader said that Punjab had been rendered orphan in the absence of top PML-N leaders, Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif. “[PML-N Supreme Leader] Nawaz Sharif will return and resolve all the issues,” she assured her supporters.

In her usual trenchant criticism against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Prime Minister Imran Khan, Maryam lampooned the ruling party for bad governance as well as rising inflation and unemployment in the country.

She asked the people not to vote for the PTI candidate in the by-polls. “If they [PTI leaders] ask you to vote for them, show them your electricity and gas bills,” she told the gathering. She added that people from all walks of life were struggling to survive due to the inflation caused by the government’s policies.

The PML-N leader reiterated her oft-repeated allegations that Imran was brought into power by “selectors” and mocked the prime minister of being the “most obedient person”. Referring to the alleged “selectors”, she added: “Don’t do this with Pakistan again.”

‘Millionaires and billionaires’

Earlier, talking to the media persons on route to Wazirabad, Maryam Nawaz spoke about a wide range of topics, including the distribution of Senate tickets by the PML-N and the PTI, as well as the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement’s anti-government campaign.

She said that the prime minister used to criticise the opponents, but now he himself had chosen “millionaires and billionaires” for the party tickets for the upcoming elections for the upper house of parliament.

“He [Imran] always criticised other political parties but had himself issued tickets to millionaires and billionaires,” she said. “He used to say that he has been struggling for the past 22 years. Has he found anyone worth giving the [Senate] ticket to in all these 22 years?”

On the contrary, Maryam said, “the PML-N has awarded Senate tickets to party workers and those who have struggled for the party”. Continuing, she added: Nawaz Sharif did not issue tickets to any billionaires.”

Responding to a question, the PML-N leader said that former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is the joint candidate of the PDM. “The opposition wants seasoned leaders get elected to the upper house.”

She mentioned that even the members of the ruling party were issuing statements one after the other over the senate tickets issue. “Keeping this situation in mind, I expect that the no-confidence movement will begin alongside the Senate elections,” she added.

She said that she would not go abroad and would not request the government for taking her name off of the Exit-Control List (ECL). “Maryam Nawaz will not go abroad, you will have to go,” she said, stressing that she would live in the country.

(With input from News Desk)