Maryam Nawaz sends defamation notice to Salik Hussain, Naeem Ashraf Butt and ARY

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has sent a legal notice to Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain, ARY anchor Naeem Ashraf Butt and the channel’s management. The notice was issued on Tuesday. It objects to allegations of corruption against the Punjab government and the Chief Minister.

The notice relates to an interview aired on ARY News in which Chaudhry Salik Hussain made allegations against the Punjab government. According to the notice, the anchor began the conversation by mentioning alleged corruption in Punjab. The Federal Minister then made serious allegations against the provincial government but did not present any credible evidence.

The notice says a person holding the office of a federal minister is expected to speak responsibly and should not present hearsay as fact. It says the anchor also did not ask for proof of the allegations. According to the notice, political criticism is everyone’s right, but baseless allegations cannot be spread.

According to Pakistan Today, the notice demands Rs5 billion in damages. The recipients have been asked to withdraw the allegations, issue an unconditional apology and clarification, and remove or correct the relevant parts of the interview. They have been given seven days, failing which legal action will be taken.

Earlier, addressing a ceremony in Attock, Maryam Nawaz had said that if Salik Hussain had evidence, he should bring it before the public, otherwise he would be dragged to court. She asked on what moral grounds he held a federal ministry if he considered the Punjab government corrupt.

Referring to the praise of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Maryam Nawaz said that when she visited Gujrat during the rains, so much water had collected on the roads and in the neighbourhoods that her own vehicle was submerged.

In response, Chaudhry Salik Hussain said he stood by his statement and had answered the questions honestly. Asked about evidence, he advised listening to the interview again.