Maryam Nawaz to send defamation notice to minister Salik Hussain

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced that she will send a defamation notice to federal minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain over his claim about corruption in the Punjab government. She made the announcement while addressing students in Attock, at a ceremony held at COMSATS University.

Ms Nawaz said the minister should present evidence instead of making allegations. According to Daily Jang, she said that if he has evidence he should bring it forward, otherwise she would take him to court.

She also said that if a single rupee in Punjab is lost to corruption, she is accountable to Allah and the people, according to Daily Pakistan.

On administration, she said she implements 100 percent merit in appointing officers. She asked why the DC Gujrat was not appointed according to her wishes, and said Gujrat, which was handed over to her, used to become waterlogged on every side when it rained.

She said she had served people for 3 years and that critics who were waiting for her to fall were now spreading propaganda. Referring to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she said that where the Punjab border ends, development also ends.

At the event she distributed scholarships and laptops to students. She said Punjab is the only province providing students with laptops, scholarships and motorbikes, and that laptops are being distributed in all divisions. She said they would help students with freelancing and modern research, and that e-bikes will be provided to students.

She listed other work by her government: 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Excellence are being established, 850 km of roads were built in Attock district over two years, and 200,000 Suthra Punjab employees are cleaning the province. She added that more green buses are being brought to Attock and students will be invited to inaugurate them.