ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has suggested that corruption allegations levelled against the Punjab government by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain are part of a broader political effort to pave the way for an “alternative arrangement” in the province.
Asif said the allegations appeared to be aimed at discrediting the incumbent leadership and creating space for a new political team.
The defence minister said corruption was not limited to Punjab but existed across the country. He questioned why Salik had singled out the Punjab government, suggesting that the timing and nature of his accusations pointed towards a possible political agenda.
“There is an attempt to create an alternative arrangement — to discredit incumbent people so that a fresh team can be presented,” Asif said.
He added that some influential and wealthy individuals had allegedly been working towards such an arrangement for the past six to eight months in anticipation of a political crisis. However, he declined to identify those involved, describing his remarks as a personal political assessment.
Asked whether the proposed arrangement was limited to Punjab or could extend to the federal government, Asif indicated that it was not necessarily a nationwide plan. He suggested that certain individuals were positioning themselves for a possible political realignment, although the strategy could eventually be abandoned.
Asif also referred to the reported political differences between Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, particularly in the context of Naqvi’s reported ties with the Chaudhry family.
He said it was possible that these relationships were linked to the emerging political developments. According to Asif, some politicians might be looking to form a new political group ahead of the next general elections, expected in around two years.
Meanwhile, Salik Hussain confirmed that he had received a legal notice from Maryam Nawaz and would submit his response soon.
In a post on X, Salik maintained that transparency could not be achieved through closed-door dealings. His confirmation came a day after he had questioned whether the notice had actually been delivered.
The controversy began after Salik criticised the Punjab government during a television interview on Monday. He praised former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi while raising concerns about the performance of the current provincial administration led by Maryam Nawaz.
Salik alleged that he regularly received complaints about corruption in Punjab. He also questioned government spending, particularly the use of official aircraft, arguing that public officials should demonstrate measurable benefits from their official trips.
He further called for greater accountability of federal and provincial ministers, saying they should have sufficient authority to perform their duties while remaining answerable for their performance.
Maryam Nawaz responded by announcing a Rs5 billion defamation notice against Salik and demanding that he withdraw his allegations.
She claimed that Salik’s objections were linked to the recent transfer of the deputy commissioner of Gujrat. According to her, he wanted an official of his choice appointed to the position.
Salik, however, rejected the criticism and stood by his remarks, saying he had answered honestly when questioned during the interview.
The dispute has also brought the longstanding political differences within the Chaudhry family into focus. Salik, the younger son of PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, belongs to a family whose political loyalties have divided since the removal of Imran Khan’s government in 2022.
While Pervez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi aligned themselves with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Shujaat Hussain family supported the Sharif-led political alliance. Salik’s elder brother, Shafay Hussain, is also a member of Maryam Nawaz’s provincial cabinet.
