Marriyum defends Maryam over jet use

Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday responded to criticism of Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz for using a government jet for her private London visit and her terrorism remarks, accusing the opponents of twisting her statement to spread hatred. The senior minister said that the issue was not the use of the aircraft or the chief minister’s remarks, “but her performance and growing popularity”. “These days, the issue is not with the plane trouble or Maryam’s statement; the real trouble is with Maryam’s performance and her rising popularity,” Marriyum posted. The CM is being criticised over the alleged use of a government jet for her London visit last week, after her youngest daughter, Mahnoor Safdar, graduated from SOAS University of London in Anthropology.