LAHORE (Web Desk) — Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced plans to send a defamation notice to Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain over his allegations of corruption in the provincial government.
چودھری سالک کو ہر جانے کا نوٹس بھیجوں گی۔ بغیر ثبوت کرپشن کے الزامات لگائے تو عدالت میں گھسیٹوں گی۔
~ وزیرِاعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف
#MaryamNawazInAttock https://t.co/TBfvsnphT1
— PMLN Punjab (@PMLNPunjabPk) November 3, 2026
Speaking at a ceremony in Attock on Tuesday, Maryam said she would not accept what she described as baseless accusations. She challenged Salik to provide evidence of corruption or face legal action.
“If you have evidence, bring it forward; otherwise, I will take you to court,” she said.
The dispute began after Salik, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), criticised the Punjab government during a television interview on Monday. He praised former chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi but questioned the performance of the current provincial administration.
Salik alleged that political interests were influencing development decisions and the distribution of public funds. He also said he frequently heard complaints of corruption in Punjab and claimed that a large share of the province’s development budget was being spent in Lahore.
Maryam rejected his allegations and said the disagreement was linked to the recent transfer of the deputy commissioner of Gujrat. She claimed Salik wanted an officer of his choice appointed to the post, but she had refused to allow political interference in administrative decisions.
The chief minister also disputed Salik’s praise for Elahi’s tenure. Referring to Gujrat, she said the city used to face serious problems with rainwater accumulation. She claimed her government had improved the drainage situation and that the city no longer experienced the same level of waterlogging during rainfall.
Salik, however, stood by his comments when speaking to the media after Maryam’s response. He said he had answered questions honestly during the interview and insisted that corruption existed in Punjab.
Asked to provide evidence, he advised reporters to listen to his interview again. He also denied that his remarks were intended to divert attention from discussions about the creation of new provinces.
Maryam later responded to Salik’s remarks, questioning his description of her response as arrogance.
The federal minister had also criticised what he described as excessive government spending, particularly the use of official aircraft. He said public representatives should consider the country’s economic situation and explain the public benefits of their official trips.
He also called for greater accountability of federal and provincial ministers, saying they should have the authority to perform their duties but should also be answerable for their performance.
The exchange also drew a response from Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, who accused Salik of being unhappy because his preferred candidate was not appointed deputy commissioner of Gujrat.
The dispute comes amid political differences within the Chaudhry family. Salik is the younger son of PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. While Pervez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi have aligned themselves with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Shujaat family has remained politically aligned with the Sharif family.
Read also: Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz assures LCCI of full support for industrialization and business growth
