LAHORE – Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain refused to retract his allegations of corruption in Punjab, insisting that he stands by his position and will submit a formal response to the legal notice issued by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz within the next couple of days, the latest reports sugested.
The minister also criticised CM Maryam Nawaz’s recent remarks, describing them as a personal attack that had crossed acceptable political boundaries and dragged his family, particularly his father, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, into an unnecessary controversy.
Speaking in separate interviews with private television channels, Salik rejected claims that his statements were part of an organised campaign against the Punjab government or an attempt by the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) to join an opposition alliance.
He argued that the controversy had been fuelled by the reaction of Maryam Nawaz and her associates, saying his initial comments about corruption had been turned into a major political confrontation.
Salik also questioned the chief minister’s references to the next general elections, pointing out that the polls were still around two and a half years away.
Responding to questions about his brother, Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, who is serving as a minister in the Punjab government, Salik said the presence of a family member in the provincial cabinet would not compel him to abandon his stance.
“Reality is reality. I stand by it and will continue to,” he said, reiterating that he had no intention of withdrawing his allegations.
The controversy has also triggered a fresh exchange of statements between the PML-Q and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari launched a scathing criticism of the Chaudhry family, drawing comparisons between Salik and Moonis Elahi, son of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.
In a statement, Bokhari accused both men of damaging the family’s longstanding political reputation through their conduct and public statements. She said their approach was inconsistent with the restrained political traditions historically associated with the Chaudhry family.
She further alleged that the family had repeatedly turned against the Sharif family despite the latter’s role in supporting its political rise.
Bokhari also criticised Salik’s language and questioned his conduct towards women, arguing that such behaviour was incompatible with the dignity expected of political leaders.
Referring to the legal notice issued by Maryam Nawaz, she claimed that the PML-Q leader had failed to provide a response despite several days having passed. She suggested that Salik should relinquish his federal ministerial position if he was unable to defend his allegations.
The Punjab information minister also questioned the PML-Q’s political position, asking how its representatives could accuse the provincial government of corruption while continuing to seek financial assistance from it.
Defending the chief minister’s performance, Bokhari claimed that Maryam Nawaz had brought development and public services to Gujrat on a scale that previous generations of the Chaudhry family leadership had failed to deliver.
She alleged that the district had remained deprived of its due rights for nearly five decades under the political influence of Zahoor Elahi, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, claiming that the current provincial government had addressed longstanding grievances.
