PTI wants Maryam’s ‘official’ engagements clarified

Alleged meetings with foreign dignitaries, tweets on national issues questioned

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader has sought clarification from the Prime Minister Office regarding allegations of ‘misuse of authority and abuse of public money’ by Maryam Nawaz who does not hold any official position.

Through a letter to the principal secretary of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, despatched on Friday, PTI’s Andleeb Abbas asked for ‘certified’ information over some alleged meetings Maryam had with foreign dignitaries at the PM House as well as her recent tweets on issues of national security and her terming Panama Leaks ‘trash’ at a time when a case against the PM’s family was pending before the Supreme Court.

“The misuse of authority by Maryam Nawaz and the abuse of taxpayers’ money is a matter of corrupt and illegal practices,” wrote Abbas in the letter.

She wondered how Maryam, who was not an elected representative, could offer official stance on national security issues, adding that Maryam’s clarification about Jindal’s visit was denied by Jyoti Malhotra, who explained that the Indian steel magnate had come with Indian Premier Narendra Modi’s message about Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav.



“Why has the ministry of information not taken any action against this embarrassment?” she asked.

The PTI leader also accused Maryam of having met foreign ambassadors and dignitaries at the PM House. “How can she do so when she does not hold any official position?”

Pointing out that Rs10 million were daily being spent on entertainment and refreshment at the PM House, she said, “This is misuse of taxpayers’ money.”

She also sought information about Strategic Media Communication Cell, having more than 90 employees. Allegeing that the cell was being run by Maryam, Andleeb wondered under which head these many people were being paid out of the taxpayers’ money.



She also stated: “The government has allocated a record Rs8.3 billion for the information ministry for 2016-17. Why are these 90 people misusing public funded PM Office, PID, cabinet block, PM Secretariat Raiwind office and the ministry of planning, P Block and R Block (at the Secretariat)?”

“ICIJ journalists exposed this statement by showing her own passport and daring her to show her original documents. This is also a contempt of court,” the letter read.

The PTI leader urged the PM Office to provide the required information and answer all questions within 21 days. “A no-response is a violation of my rights as a citizen and a clear dismissal of democratic norms,” she stated.