Maryam Nawaz Answers Salik Claims in Jhelum
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has hit back at corruption claims by federal minister Chaudhry Salik, telling a ceremony in Jhelum that political narratives have a limited “shelf life” and that voters judge parties by their record of service.
Maryam was speaking on Tuesday at a Honhaar Scholarship and laptop distribution ceremony at Government Comprehensive High School in Jhelum. She cited the PML-N’s victories in recent local elections in Sahiwal and Gujranwala, despite opposition parties having “joined hands” against her.
“No matter how much you talk or how many claims you make, if you have not served the people, there comes a day when you are deprived [of public support],” she said.
“If some people have objections and are levelling allegations of corruption against the Punjab government, why don’t they resign from the cabinet?” she asked, in an apparent reference to Salik, the Minister for Overseas Pakistanis.
Maryam Nawaz Jhelum speech answers corruption claims
Maryam maintained that there had been no corruption in the development projects worth trillions of rupees launched by her government over the past three years. She said she was answerable to the people for the expenditure of public money and would not spare any minister or official against whom evidence of corruption or bribery was presented.
The row began last week, when Salik used a talk show to praise former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and criticise the provincial administration headed by Maryam. He alleged that he regularly heard complaints of corruption and questioned lavish government spending.
Last Tuesday, Maryam said she had sent Salik a Rs5 billion defamation notice, demanding that he retract his remarks. She claimed his anger stemmed from her decision to change the Gujrat deputy commissioner, whereas Salik wanted one of his choice in the post. Salik has said he stands by his statement.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif added a sharper edge to the dispute on Friday. He claimed the allegations were part of efforts to set the ground for an “alternative arrangement” to discredit incumbents so a fresh team could be presented.
Salik is the younger son of PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, whose family split sharply after Imran Khan’s government was removed in 2022. While Pervez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi aligned themselves with the PTI, the Shujaat family stood with the Sharifs. Salik’s elder brother, Shafay Hussain, is part of Maryam’s cabinet.
The row follows other public criticism of Maryam’s government, including an attack on its development funds by Hussain Elahi earlier this week. Maryam has also used deputy commissioners as her link to the districts, directing them last week to visit colleges across Punjab.
Schools, buses and hospitals in Jhelum address
Maryam used the Jhelum ceremony to list the projects her government says it has spread beyond the big cities. She said her government had broken the tradition of concentrating development spending in major centres.
She cited the expansion of the Green Bus service to Jhelum, Khushab, Layyah, Bhakkar, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan. She also highlighted the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence, saying they matched expensive private schools, with air-conditioned classrooms and computer, artificial intelligence and science laboratories. She announced 300 such schools, with Jhelum work starting December 15.
On health, she said cardiac treatment facilities were being set up in 25 cities. Patients at public hospitals would receive angiograms, angioplasty, stenting and pacemaker implantation free of cost, she added. Cancer hospitals were being established at every divisional headquarters, while the country’s first government-run cancer hospital was being built in Lahore.
Maryam praised Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat for his work. She has also taken a public stand on other Punjab cases this week, warning attackers after the assault of a salesgirl in Faisalabad. She has previously backed a tit-for-tat response in assault cases. Dawn reported the ceremony on Tuesday.
Frequently asked questions
What did Maryam Nawaz say in Jhelum?
She said political narratives and allegations had a limited “shelf life” and that voters judged parties by their service record. She denied corruption in her government’s development projects and asked why critics did not resign from the cabinet.
Who is Chaudhry Salik and what did he allege?
Salik is the federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and the younger son of PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. He alleged he regularly heard complaints of corruption against the Punjab government.
What action has Maryam taken against Salik?
She sent him a Rs5 billion defamation notice last Tuesday. Salik stands by his statement.
What did Khawaja Asif say about the row?
Khawaja Asif claimed on Friday that the allegations were part of efforts to set the ground for an “alternative arrangement”.
What projects did Maryam announce in Jhelum?
She announced 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence, cardiac facilities in 25 cities, and cancer hospitals at every divisional headquarters.
