Azma Bukhari demands details of K-P chief minister’s charter flights

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has demanded transparency over the alleged use of chartered aircraft by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, questioning how much the provincial government is paying for his political travels.

In a statement, Bukhari criticised the K-P government for allegedly spending public money on charter flights while, according to her, the province is facing difficulties in meeting routine financial obligations, including salaries and wheat procurement.

She said the K-P leadership had previously criticised the Punjab government over its use of aircraft but was now allegedly relying on chartered planes itself.

“Those who objected to Punjab’s aircraft are now travelling on charter flights,” she said, accusing the K-P government of applying a different standard to itself.

Bukhari called on the provincial government to publicly disclose the complete details of the alleged charter flight. She specifically sought the passenger list, payment records and flight-tracking data to establish who travelled, who arranged the flight and how much was paid.

The Punjab minister also questioned the authenticity of flight details being circulated on social media. She claimed that the flight number and boarding pass being presented as evidence referred to a scheduled flight operating between Islamabad and Bahawalpur.

According to Bukhari, the aircraft allegedly used by the K-P chief minister instead travelled to Rahim Yar Khan, which she said raised questions about whether the aircraft was privately chartered.

She maintained that the matter could not be settled through verbal explanations and called for documentary evidence, including receipts, to establish the actual cost and source of payment.

“Now verbal explanations will not work. Bring out the receipts,” Bukhari said, demanding that the K-P government provide a clear account of the expenditure.