Maryam sues Salik over defamation

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has served a Rs5 billion defamation notice on Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, an ARY News anchor and the private television channel's chairman, over allegations of widespread corruption in the province, demanding an unconditional apology, retraction of the statements and damages.

However, Salik Hussain, who belongs to a smaller allied party in the ruling coalition, has stood by his allegations, insisting that corruption was taking place in Punjab.

He has also rejected the suggestion that his remarks were prompted by the appointment of a deputy commissioner on merit, maintaining that the interview had been recorded three weeks earlier.

"If you have proof, bring it forward; if not, I will drag you to court," Maryam said during a laptop distribution ceremony, reiterating the allegation made a day earlier by Information Minister Azma Bukhari that the federal minister had effectively issued a charge sheet against the provincial government out of displeasure over the appointment of a deputy commissioner on merit.

A day earlier, Salik had acknowledged that he had indeed asked the government to appoint a deputy commissioner whose capabilities were better suited to executing mega projects.

The legal notice, issued through Additional Advocate General Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, gives the recipients - Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, ARY News anchor Naeem Ashraf Butt and ARY Chairman Muhammad Iqbal - seven days to withdraw the allegations, issue an unconditional apology and pay Rs5 billion in damages over what it describes as defamatory statements that have harmed the chief minister's reputation.

The notice concerns an interview with Salik Hussain broadcast on ARY News on November 2 and subsequently uploaded to the channel's official YouTube platform.

During the interview, the federal minister reportedly said: "I have no evidence, but I hear stories about corruption in Punjab every day." He also remarked that "cupboards are filled with files on corruption cases in Punjab".

The notice argues that the minister levelled sweeping allegations despite admitting that he had no evidence to substantiate them. It questions the factual basis of his remarks, asking which departments, officials, projects or transactions he was referring to and whether any official inquiries, investigations or audit reports supported his claims.

It also holds the interviewer responsible, alleging that his introductory and leading remarks facilitated the propagation of unverified allegations without seeking supporting evidence or clarification from the minister.

The notice further names ARY Chairman Muhammad Iqbal for facilitating and broadcasting the interview, arguing that those involved in disseminating the statements also bear responsibility for their publication.

According to the notice, the remarks portrayed corruption as widespread across Punjab's administrative machinery and undermined public confidence in the provincial government headed by Maryam Nawaz.

Besides demanding Rs5 billion in damages, the chief minister has sought an unequivocal retraction of the statements, an unconditional apology and a clarification on the same media platforms, with prominence equivalent to that given to the original allegations.

The recipients have also been asked to remove or suitably correct the allegedly defamatory portions of the interview and related clips, while preserving the original recording, unedited footage, editorial notes and other relevant publication records.

The notice warns that failure to comply within seven days would lead to legal proceedings under the Punjab Defamation Act, 2024, before the competent forum.

Earlier, announcing her decision to issue the defamation notice, Maryam said she would not tolerate false allegations. She also challenged the federal minister to leave the government if he believed corruption was so widespread in Punjab.

She maintained that the actual issue was the appointment of a deputy commissioner in Gujrat rather than any development project.

She said she did not entertain requests or recommendations in the appointment of deputy commissioners, commissioners and regional police officers, insisting that all such appointments were made strictly on merit. Those appointed through influence, she added, ended up harming the country.

Rejecting the federal minister's assessment of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the best chief minister, Maryam said that when she assumed office, Gujrat resembled a village, with rainfall submerging the entire city and forcing people to travel not in cars but on trolleys.

Referring to her own visit to the city, she said she had undertaken development projects worth billions of rupees and could be held accountable for even a penny's worth of corruption.

It is pertinent to mention that Salik Hussain's brother, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, is also part of the provincial government and serves directly under Maryam Nawaz as Punjab's minister for industries, commerce and investment.

Responding to the allegations against him, Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain said he had merely answered the interviewer's questions honestly, reiterating his position that corruption existed in Punjab.

However, he sidestepped questions about whether he possessed any evidence to support his allegations or whether he should leave the government if corruption was indeed taking place in the province.

Taking an indirect swipe at Maryam Nawaz, he said people holding powerful positions should remain humble.

"May Almighty save people from pride and arrogance," he added.