LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced plans to send a defamation notice to Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, challenging him to provide evidence to support his allegations against her government.
Addressing a public gathering in Attock, Maryam Nawaz said Chaudhry Salik should either present evidence of his claims or be prepared to face legal proceedings.
“If Chaudhry Salik has evidence, he should bring it forward. Otherwise, I will drag him to court,” she said.
The Punjab chief minister questioned why a federal minister would make allegations without providing supporting evidence. She said holding a government position came with responsibility and that accusations should not be made without proof.
Maryam Nawaz further announced that she would send a defamation notice to the federal minister over his remarks.
Responding to Chaudhry Salik’s reported praise for the former Punjab government led by Parvez Elahi, Maryam said he had described it as the best government in the province’s history.
She challenged that assessment by recalling her visit to Gujrat during heavy rainfall. She said the situation was so severe that her vehicle was submerged in rainwater, questioning the performance of the previous provincial administration.
The chief minister also questioned why Chaudhry Salik continued to serve as a federal minister if he believed the government was corrupt.
Speaking about her administration’s approach to governance, Maryam said she did not entertain political pressure or recommendations when appointing government officials.
She maintained that appointments in Punjab were made on merit and that she personally ensured officers were selected on the basis of their capabilities rather than political connections.
Maryam argued that appointing officials through personal recommendations undermined governance and harmed both the country and the public.
She said officials who secured positions through favouritism could damage the administrative system and compromise public service delivery.
