Maryam Nawaz serves Rs5 billion defamation notice on Salik Hussain

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has served a Rs5 billion defamation notice on Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, The Express Tribune reported. The notice was also addressed to an ARY News anchor and the channel's chairman.

The notice demands an unconditional apology, a retraction of the statements and damages. It says Salik made sweeping corruption allegations without evidence, harming the reputation of the chief minister and the provincial administration. It calls the allegations baseless, unverified and defamatory.

It also asks which departments, offices, officials, projects or transactions Salik was referring to. It accuses the programme host of broadcasting the allegations without establishing their authenticity.

The remarks came during a talk show on Monday. Salik, who belongs to a smaller allied party in the ruling coalition, said complaints about corruption in Punjab were commonplace. He claimed a disproportionate share of the provincial development budget was spent in Lahore, and that districts such as Gujrat, where government-backed candidates lost elections, were overlooked. He praised his paternal uncle Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, PTI president, for his tenure as Punjab chief minister from 2002 to 2007.

Salik acknowledged that he had no evidence. He said: "I have no evidence, but I hear stories about corruption in Punjab every day." He also said: "Chaudhry Pervez Elahi is the best chief executive Punjab has ever had."

Speaking at a laptop distribution ceremony, Maryam Nawaz said: "If you have proof, bring it forward; if not, I will drag you to court."

Information Minister Azma Bukhari had made a similar allegation a day earlier, claiming the federal minister issued a charge sheet against the provincial government over a deputy commissioner appointment. Salik had acknowledged asking the government to appoint a deputy commissioner with capabilities better suited to executing mega projects.

Salik has stood by his allegations. He rejected the suggestion that his remarks were prompted by the appointment of a deputy commissioner on merit, saying the interview was recorded three weeks earlier.