Chief Provincial Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb.
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has decided to take legal action against those involved in a “malicious campaign” over the use of an official aircraft by the provincial administration, Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has warned, amid growing confusion over the government’s claims that the newly acquired luxury aircraft was undergoing routine maintenance.
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She said the provincial government had decided to take legal action against “every individual and platform” involved under the Defamation Act 2024.
“Disinformation will no longer go unanswered,” she added. Aurangzeb warned that “those who think they can malign institutions and mislead the public without consequence should prepare to face the law.”
She added that the government intended to “use the maximum penalty provided for in law to ensure a clear and unequivocal message.”
The minister also argued that fake news did not constitute “real journalism” but defamation.
“Pathologically liar lunatics will not be tolerated, that’s enough,” she stressed.
Following this, Azma Bukhari also took to social media, stating that false allegations were first spread about Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s foreign trip, and now fabricated stories were being created about her family.
“The same energy spent on spreading lies, if only it had been used for the welfare of the public, maybe people would have believed you today.
You can continue to spread lies, but Maryam Nawaz will continue to introduce new initiatives for the welfare of people and continue to win their hearts. The old tactics of playing the victim, innocence or political victimization cards will no longer work,” she wrote.
Earlier on Saturday, Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari, speaking to The Express PK Press Club, vehemently denied rumors that the newly acquired official luxury jet was under her son’s personal use.
Responding to reports about the Punjab government plane currently in Vienna, after days of speculation regarding the presence of the CM’s plane on a foreign tarmac, Azma wrote that the plane had been sent to Vienna for technical inspection, adding that such inspections within a specified time frame are part of contractual obligations.
The Gulfstream jet has remained at the center of controversy since reports of the multi-billion rupee luxury jet first surfaced in the media, with critics questioning the government’s commitment to austerity at a time when the country remains stuck in a persistent debt cycle.
