ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed surprise over Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain’s allegations of corruption in Punjab, saying the remarks are difficult for him to understand.
In a statement shared on social media platform X on Wednesday, Asif described Salik as a respected political figure and said he held his family in high regard. However, he questioned the timing and political intentions behind the minister’s criticism of the Punjab government.
Asif said corruption remained one of Pakistan’s biggest challenges and stressed that eliminating the menace was a shared responsibility of political leaders at both federal and provincial levels.
He pointed out that Salik was part of the federal government as well as the political setup, both led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He suggested that if the minister’s remarks were intended to create political space for himself by targeting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s government, they could be linked to his future political ambitions.
The defence minister also praised Maryam’s performance, saying her development work across Punjab’s cities and rural areas had established service standards that would be difficult for political opponents to challenge.
The controversy began after Salik criticised the provincial administration during a television interview on Monday. While praising former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, he claimed that he frequently heard complaints about corruption under the current government led by Maryam Nawaz.
His remarks prompted Maryam to issue a Rs5 billion defamation notice on Tuesday. The chief minister demanded that Salik withdraw his allegations and issue an unconditional apology.
Salik has refused to back down, maintaining that he answered the interviewer’s questions honestly and stood by his position.
During the interview, he also raised concerns over excessive government spending, particularly the use of official aircraft amid the country’s economic difficulties. He argued that public officials should explain the benefits and outcomes of their official trips.
He further called for stronger accountability within the government, suggesting that federal and provincial ministers should have sufficient authority to perform their responsibilities while remaining answerable for their performance.
Maryam, however, rejected the criticism and suggested that Salik’s displeasure was linked to a recent administrative decision. She alleged that the minister was unhappy because she had replaced the deputy commissioner of Gujrat, while he wanted an officer of his own choice appointed to the position.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari also criticised Salik, advising him against biting the hand that feeds him. She alleged that his objections were connected to the rejection of his preferred candidate for the Gujrat deputy commissioner position.
The defamation notice was also sent to ARY News host Naeem Ashraf Butt and the channel’s chairman. It described the allegations as serious claims of widespread corruption rather than ordinary political criticism.
The notice demanded an unconditional public apology, withdrawal of the allegations and correction or removal of the disputed interview remarks. It also sought Rs5 billion in damages.
The dispute has further exposed political differences within the Chaudhry family. Salik, the younger son of PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, belongs to a family whose political loyalties have diverged since the removal of former prime minister Imran Khan in 2022.
While Pervez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi aligned themselves with the PTI, the Shujaat family supported the Sharif-led political alliance. Salik’s elder brother, Shafay Hussain, is also serving in Maryam Nawaz’s provincial cabinet.
