Rs10 Trillion Corruption Allegation Against Maryam Nawaz Sparks War of Words Between PTI and PML-N
A serious political standoff has erupted between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab following explosive allegations of financial mismanagement against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Adviser on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, stirred controversy by accusing CM Maryam Nawaz of corruption worth Rs10 trillion. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he claimed that a recent audit report had exposed massive irregularities during her tenure. Saif alleged that the Punjab government had yet to offer a satisfactory explanation, which he said pointed to “ongoing looting” of public funds. According to him, development projects in Punjab were not intended for public welfare but instead were structured to extract kickbacks. He warned that the audit covered only the first year of her leadership, and more damaging findings were likely to emerge.
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In addition to these claims, Barrister Saif also criticized CM Maryam Nawaz for what he described as politicising the recent incident in Swat. He stated that such matters should not be used for political point-scoring and confirmed that an investigative committee had already been formed. He also rejected any concerns over the political stability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the PTI-led provincial government remained stable despite controversies over reserved seats.
Responding sharply to these allegations, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari held a press conference in Lahore and categorically denied any wrongdoing by the current Punjab administration. She dismissed Saif’s allegations as a deliberate misinterpretation of the audit report and accused him of misleading the public for political gain. According to Bokhari, the report referenced by Saif actually pertains to the 2018–2023 period—when PTI was in power in Punjab, under former chief ministers Usman Buzdar and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
Referring to specific pages of the report, Bokhari said, “Read page 87 and 96 of the report, maybe you’ll feel some shame.” She clarified that the Rs10 trillion amount mentioned relates to wheat procurement and subsidies issued during PTI’s tenure, not Maryam Nawaz’s government. Bokhari further labeled the 2018–2023 period as one of the darkest eras in Punjab’s governance, marred by “corruption, incompetence, and looting.”
She did not hold back in her criticism of PTI leadership, saying that the same model of misgovernance seen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 12 years was replicated in Punjab during PTI’s four-year rule. She also brought up allegations involving prominent PTI-linked figures, stating, “The thefts and scandals involving Bushra Bibi and Farah Gogi are also part of the official record.” In a stinging remark, Bokhari said, “The final destination of Ali Amin and Barrister Saif’s so-called achievements seems to be Adiala Jail.”
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