Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday said that TLP) seminaries have been handed over to religious scholar Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman, following a ban on the religio-political party.
At a meeting of the Ittehad-e-Bain-ul-Muslimeen in Lahore, CM Maryam said that the purpose of seminaries and mosques is to impart religious knowledge.
She said that photos of the violence that occurred during the TLP protests were “something one cannot imagine”.
“Vehicles assigned for cleaning were set ablaze. Roads were blocked, causing difficulties for people,” she said.
The Punjab chief minister assailed the banned TLP for “acting on its own whims”, which she said disgraced religious leaders and parties across the country.
Referring to the party’s planned sit-in in the federal capital, the Punjab CM called it the government’s responsibility to protect those living in Pakistan.
“Embassies around the world are respected and given protection,” she said.
CM Maryam expressed dismay over the call to protest despite an agreement reached for peace in Gaza.
The Punjab CM then urged religious parties to “distance themselves from such groups”, while calling for religious scholars to play their part in improving society.
Recalling the May 9 riots, she said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “downfall began” when the “party took up arms”.
“If the PTI had continued its political struggle, no one would have objected,” she said, while noting that her party never took up arms or committed violence during its political struggle.
CM Maryam questioned the rationale behind keeping weapons during the protests, saying that authorities recovered large caches of weapons during raids on TLP offices.
Separately, United States (US) Consul General in Lahore HE Stetson Sanders called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif here on Wednesday and discussed matters of mutual interest, including investment, trade, cultural cooperation, and environmental sustainability.
The US Consul General expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him and appreciated the Punjab government’s strong commitment to development and investment promotion in the province. He also lauded the government’s e-Business project, terming it a business-friendly initiative that facilitated investors and enhanced ease of doing business in Punjab.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif highlighted the cordial relations between Pakistan and the United States, saying that bilateral ties were reaching new heights of cooperation and mutual understanding. She said the recent visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to the United States would further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
The CM invited American investors to take advantage of the vast business and investment opportunities in Punjab, emphasizing that the province offered a conducive environment for trade and industrial growth.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif also briefed the Consul General on the ongoing flood rehabilitation initiatives, noting that the people of Punjab had faced one of the most devastating floods in the province’s history with resilience and determination.