LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, addressing the Punjab Assembly on Friday, declared that those who once claimed Nawaz Sharif was “minus” from politics are now witnessing a “Minus Imran” situation.
“It’s retributive justice,” she declared. Citing a reported admission by Aleema Khan, sister of Imran Khan, she said even his close family now accepts his diminished political standing. In a wide-ranging 55-minute speech delivered amid frequent interruptions from opposition members, she lauded Pakistan’s recent victory over India, crediting Field Marshal General Asim Munir for his leadership. She also praised Pakistan’s diplomatic stance in supporting Iran during its conflict with Israel, calling the resulting ceasefire a “positive sign”. She strongly condemned Israel, branding it a “brutal regime,” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace.
Despite opposition disruptions, the CM remained composed and urged the assembly chair to focus on her address. She congratulated the House on passing the largest Annual Development Programme (ADP) in Punjab’s history and notably thanked the opposition, setting what she called a “positive new tradition”.
Key development announcements by the CM included: Launch of ‘Apni Zamin, Apna Ghar’ programme in 19 districts and construction of 2,400 model villages across Punjab. Expansion and construction of 5,000-km of farm-to-market roads. A major clean water initiative in south Punjab, including tanker-based delivery systems.
Allocation of Rs10 billion for WASA and PHA development. Establishment of Punjab’s first Centre of Excellence Diagnostic Centre, installation of 10 new CT scan machines, completion of 1,400 health centres within six months, Rs80 billion allocated for labs and free medicines, creation of the Nawaz Sharif Medical District, featuring seven modern hospitals and an airstrip for air ambulances.
Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her government’s commitment to improving public health, infrastructure, and welfare while upholding peace and constitutional order. Maryam reaffirmed her government’s commitment to inclusive development, unveiling a series of wide-ranging initiatives for education, agriculture, infrastructure, health, and social welfare. She also reiterated her pledge to ensure transparency, good governance, and equitable progress across all regions of Punjab, especially south Punjab.
Her key announcements included building 500,000 houses in five years, Metro Bus projects in Gujranwala and Faisalabad within 18 months, introduction of Air Punjab, the province’s first government airline, within the current year, a regional train project to connect south and north Punjab, launch of Pakistan’s first crop insurance scheme for farmers, Rs200 billion interest-free loans for 1 million farmers, 20,000 subsidised tractors for small landholders, support for shrimp farming on 5,000 acres, rollout of Kissan Cards with interest-free loans up to Rs1 million, distribution of super seeders next year, farm-to-market road construction totalling 19,000 km, construction of 300+ schools of eminence, installation of 6,000 IT labs, provision of 500,000 laptops over five years, launch of Honhaar scholarships for deserving students, upgrade of 1,400 dispensaries at a cost of Rs10 billion.
The CM vowed to resign over any financial scandal of even a single rupee, introduction of e-auctions to save Rs60 billion in procurement. She announced that Pakistan’s first Film City to be launched in IT City to boost the film industry.
While the chief minister was relating achievements of her government so far, the house descended into complete chaos on Friday. The assembly members from both the treasury and opposition benches engaged in physical scuffles and traded objectionable language.
Despite repeated warnings and instructions from Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, the opposition members ignored calls for order. The speaker warned of possible disciplinary action against those responsible for disrupting proceedings.
Tensions escalated when Chief Whip of the Opposition, Rana Shahbaz, attempted to approach the CM’s dais mid-speech but was physically blocked by treasury members, including Provincial Ministers Suhail Shaukat Butt, Sohaib Bherth, and MPAs Pir Ashraf Rasool and Ahmad Iqbal.
Opposition leaders Ahmad Khan Bachar, Tayyab Sindhu, Hafiz Farhat, and Moeen Qureshi were also involved in heated altercations with ruling party lawmakers. Amid the uproar, CM Maryam Nawaz continued her speech and urged the Speaker to maintain focus on her address despite the disorder.
