LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday strongly criticised activists affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and allied voices for what she described as a coordinated smear campaign against Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif over the Punjab government’s decision to acquire a luxury aircraft.
In a statement, Aurangzeb alleged that individuals involved in character assassination on television and social media platforms maintain links with PTI. She urged national media outlets to reject what she termed narratives driven by PTI’s “foreign-funded networks.”
According to Aurangzeb, a “toxic mindset” cultivated during PTI’s tenure in power continues to influence both mainstream and digital platforms. She argued that the criticism targeting the chief minister reflects what she called the offensive thinking of PTI’s founding leadership.
Call to Media
The senior minister called upon media organisations to publicly condemn attacks against Maryam Nawaz Sharif. She further claimed that individuals accused of spreading defamatory content often invoke freedom of expression whenever legal action is considered against them.
The controversy emerged after opposition leaders questioned the Punjab government’s reported decision to procure a luxury aircraft, raising concerns over public expenditure. Government representatives, however, maintain that the criticism is politically motivated and part of a broader campaign against the provincial leadership.
