PMML serves legal notice on Maryam Nawaz over defamatory statements

Lahore: Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) has served a legal notice on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over what it describes as false, baseless and defamatory allegations against the party, demanding a public apology and removal of the relevant social media posts within seven days.

Through the notice, the CM has been asked to withdraw her allegations, delete posts containing the statements from X and other social media platforms, and provide a written undertaking that she would neither repeat nor publish or circulate similar defamatory claims in the future. The party has warned that it reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings if the demands are not met within the stipulated period.

The legal notice was sent to the CM at her Jati Umra residence in Raiwind and her office at Seven Club, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore. It was served through Advocate Muhammad Aamir Habib.

According to the notice, the PMML is a duly registered political party with the Election Commission of Pakistan and has the legal right to participate in the country’s democratic and electoral process. It states that the CM used her personal X account and made public remarks that were subsequently broadcast by national television channels, including ARY, Geo and BOL, and reported in print media.

The notice alleges that she described the PMML as a “terrorist organisation” and an “illegal and proscribed party”, despite its registration with the Election Commission. It maintains that such statements are misleading and have damaged the party’s reputation, credibility and public standing, as well as the reputation of its leadership, office-bearers, members, workers and supporters.

It further states that the party has carried out welfare activities during natural disasters and other difficult circumstances and contested the 2024 general elections under its own name and the electoral symbol of a chair. It also claims that the PMML established itself as the second-largest party in the November 8, 2026, by-election in NA-77 Gujranwala.

The notice maintains that labelling a legally registered political party a terrorist organisation without a valid legal basis is a serious allegation that could mislead the public and potentially attract civil and criminal proceedings under applicable Pakistani laws.

The CM has been formally asked to immediately stop making or circulating defamatory statements, remove all related posts, videos and other material, publicly withdraw the allegations and issue an unconditional written and public apology to the party’s leadership, members and workers. The apology must be published through the same platforms used to circulate the original statements.

The notice gives Maryam Nawaz seven days from its receipt to comply with all demands, warning that failure or refusal to do so would compel the party to initiate legal proceedings without further notice.