Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has served a Rs5 billion defamation notice on Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain over his allegations of widespread corruption in the province. According to sources, the notice also names a private television channel's anchor and its chairman, and demands an unconditional apology, a retraction and damages.
The row began with a television talk show on Monday in which Salik, who belongs to a smaller ally in the ruling coalition, claimed corruption was rife in Punjab and that a disproportionate share of the development budget was being spent in Lahore while districts such as Gujrat were neglected. In the same interview he acknowledged he had no evidence for his claims, saying he heard stories of corruption every day.
"If you have proof, bring it forward; if not, I will drag you to court," Maryam said at a laptop distribution ceremony. A day earlier, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari had alleged that the federal minister issued a charge sheet against the provincial government because he was unhappy over a deputy commissioner's appointment on merit.
Salik has stood by his allegations. He rejected the suggestion that they were linked to the appointment, saying the interview was recorded three weeks earlier, though he acknowledged asking for a deputy commissioner better suited to running mega projects. In the interview he also praised his uncle, former chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, as the best chief executive Punjab has had.