Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has stated that the land of Punjab has been made unbearable for every oppressor and mafia, and no mischief or disorder will be allowed to flourish in the province under any circumstances.
Addressing a ceremony for the distribution of honorary cards among religious scholars in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz said it was an honor for her to serve religious leaders, as mosque imams play a vital role in shaping society and guiding the younger generation. She said more than 70,000 bank accounts have been opened so far, through which a monthly honorarium of Rs25,000 will be provided to imams under a project worth Rs20 billion annually. She added that from February, payments will be made directly through bank accounts, despite attempts to give the initiative a political color.
The chief minister said that she needed the support of religious scholars to curb mischief and disorder, stressing that using religion to promote unrest was a betrayal. She said that in the past, certain elements exploited religion to spread chaos, resulting in the martyrdom of police and Rangers personnel, damage to public property, and the blocking of roads, which clearly amounted to mischief.
Maryam Nawaz said that bringing oppression and violence of any kind to justice was the responsibility of the state. She added that the state would hold those responsible accountable for the blood of martyrs and would not allow anyone to endanger public lives, property, or national security.
She further said that people often turn to religion in difficult times, and both the Quran and Hadith strongly condemn disorder and chaos. Emphasizing the need to discourage religious hatred, she urged religious leaders to correct their own ranks and stay away from mischief and unrest.
The Punjab chief minister added that her government had ended the culture of intimidation and disrespect towards women in the province. She reiterated that no mischief would be allowed to take root and said that while people may not be pleased with the strict enforcement of traffic laws, such measures were not for her personal benefit, as she did not wish to issue challans but to ensure discipline and safety.
