Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Maryam Nawaz has announced plans to send a defamation notice to Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain over his allegations of corruption in the provincial government, demanding that he provide evidence to support his claims.
Reacting to Salik’s interview with a private media outlet, Maryam said that she had watched the show in which he alleged that corruption was widespread in Punjab.
The CM rejected the allegations and warned of legal action, challenging the federal minister to substantiate his claims.
“If Chaudhry Salik has evidence, he should present it instead of making allegations,” Maryam said, adding that she expected him to provide proof.
She also suggested that Salik’s criticism could be linked to the transfer of the deputy commissioner of Gujrat, questioning whether the administrative decision had prompted his remarks.
Referring to her visit to Gujrat, Maryam said that she had witnessed severe flooding, claiming that the water had risen so high that her Land Cruiser was submerged.
The chief minister also criticised Salik’s assessment of previous provincial administrations, noting that he had described the government of former chief minister Pervez Elahi as the best.
Maryam reiterated that the issue was not simply about corruption allegations but about a federal minister making serious accusations without presenting evidence. She also said that individuals appointed through personal recommendations often undermined the interests of the country and its people.
Salik had earlier criticised the Punjab government over its development priorities and the allocation of public funds, alleging that political considerations were influencing spending decisions.
