I appoint officers on merit, listen to no one’:Maryam

A fresh political confrontation has erupted between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab

GUJRAT:  A fresh political confrontation has erupted between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab and Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain after his recent criticism of the provincial government, with the government demanding evidence for his allegations and warning of legal action.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain, who belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League and serves as federal minister for overseas Pakistanis, had recently criticised the performance of the Punjab government in a television interview, claiming that corruption-related complaints had become widespread in the province.

He also described the tenure of former chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the best in Punjab, saying that development work had been carried out during his government.
In his latest remarks, Salik said he heard stories of corruption in Punjab on a daily basis and claimed that the volume of complaints had grown to the point where files were no longer enough to contain them. He also criticised the distribution of the provincial development budget and alleged that political considerations influenced development spending.

His comments triggered a strong response from the Punjab government, with provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari questioning the basis of his allegations and saying that a federal minister should bring forward evidence rather than make accusations.
Bukhari said the provincial government would not appoint officers according to the wishes of political figures and that the practice of appointing officials through political recommendations had been ended. She specifically referred to the controversy surrounding the appointment of a deputy commissioner, saying that anger over the appointment of a preferred DC was not justified.

She further said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was making appointments on merit and had ended the culture of favouritism and recommendations in Punjab. Bukhari also challenged Salik to provide evidence for his allegations, warning that legal action could follow if he failed to substantiate them.
The minister also defended the Punjab government’s development record, saying that funds were being distributed to smaller cities and that projects such as electric buses, housing schemes, scholarships and sanitation services were being extended beyond Lahore.
She also referred to Gujrat, saying that the provincial government had allocated substantial funds for development in the district. Her remarks came amid renewed political debate in Gujrat over the performance of successive governments and the city’s long-standing drainage and infrastructure problems.

The dispute has gained particular significance in Gujrat because of the political rivalry involving the PML-N and PML-Q leadership. Salik Hussain’s favourable assessment of Pervaiz Elahi’s tenure has effectively brought the political record of the former Punjab chief minister back into the centre of debate.

The exchange has also raised questions over whether Salik’s criticism represents a wider political disagreement within the ruling alliance or reflects growing differences over administrative appointments and development priorities in Gujrat.
For a district that has repeatedly remained at the centre of political competition between the PML-N and PML-Q, the latest war of words is likely to further sharpen divisions, particularly as both sides seek to claim responsibility for development and distance themselves from the city’s persistent civic problems.