Senior Provincial Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb.
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has decided to pursue legal action against those involved in a “malicious campaign” regarding the use of an official aircraft by the provincial administration, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb warned amid growing confusion over the government’s claims that the newly procured luxury jet was undergoing routine maintenance.
In a post on X, Aurangzeb said she had taken notice of a “deliberate malicious campaign of lies and fabricated stories about the use of the official plane of the Punjab government”, alleging that it was being driven by “known pathological liars and peddlers of fake news”.
She said the provincial government had decided to initiate legal proceedings against “every individual and platform” involved under the Defamation Law 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 further said the government intended to “seek recourse to the maximum penalty under the law to ensure a clear and unequivocal message”.
The minister also maintained that fake news was not “real journalism” but defamation.
“Pathological lying lunatics will not be tolerated; enough is enough,” she stressed.
Following this, Azma Bukhari also took to social media, stating that false claims had first been spread about Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz travelling abroad, and that fabricated stories were now being created about her family.
“The same energy being spent on spreading lies, if only it had been used for the welfare of the public, perhaps people would have believed you today.
You may continue spreading lies, but Maryam Nawaz will keep introducing new initiatives for the welfare of the people and will continue winning their hearts. The old tactics of playing the victim, innocence, or political victimisation cards will not work anymore,” she wrote.
Earlier on Saturday, Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari, speaking to The Express Tribune, vehemently denied rumours that the newly procured official luxury jet was under her son’s personal use.
Addressing reports surrounding the Punjab government’s aircraft currently in Vienna, after days of speculation regarding the presence of the CM’s plane on foreign tarmac, Azma wrote that the aircraft had been sent to Vienna for a technical inspection, adding that such inspections within a specified time period are part of contractual obligations.
The Gulfstream aircraft has remained at the centre of controversy since reports about 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 trapped in a persistent debt cycle.
