LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has defended her use of the provincial government’s aircraft during her recent private trip to London, saying the plane belongs to the office of the chief minister and not to her personally.
Maryam Nawaz travelled to London earlier this month to attend the graduation ceremony of her daughter, Mahnoor Safdar. The use of the Punjab government’s Gulfstream aircraft for the private trip sparked criticism and questions over the use of official resources.
Speaking in Multan, Maryam said there was “too much pain” among her critics over the government aircraft.
“The aircraft is not mine. It belongs to the Chief Minister of Punjab,” she said.
The chief minister said many other government leaders also travel on official aircraft, but she is singled out for criticism.
“Many rulers travel on government aircraft every day, but they are not criticised,” Maryam said.
Maryam said she continued to perform official duties even when travelling for personal reasons.
“Whether I am on a private trip or wherever I am, I continue to perform government work,” she said.
She added that she was accountable to the people of Punjab rather than individual vloggers or YouTubers.
“I am not answerable to any vlogger or YouTuber. I am answerable to the people,” the chief minister said.
Maryam also said she would not remain chief minister forever and that criticism did not concern her.
“I do not have time to waste,” she said.
Defending her decision to use the official aircraft, Maryam said she had also travelled to Japan and London on the government plane and would continue to do so.
She said using the aircraft helped reduce the time required for the London trip.
“If there had been no aircraft in London, the trip would have taken six or seven additional days,” she said.
Maryam also said the criticism was not actually about the aircraft but about her work as chief minister.
“Those criticising me do not have a problem with the aircraft. They have a problem with Maryam Nawaz’s work,” she said.
She further alleged that some people criticising her on social media receive payments in dollars. She did not provide details or evidence for the claim.
The chief minister said her daughter’s graduation was the reason for her London visit.
She also said she had paid the cost of using the government aircraft from her own pocket.
The development comes after the use of the provincial aircraft for the private trip became a political and public controversy. The Punjab government had earlier said Maryam would personally bear the expenses.
On September 17, reports said Rs27,194,004 had been deposited into the Punjab government treasury against the aircraft expenses. The amount was also reported by multiple news outlets, although the payment details were initially based on reports and statements by government and PML-N figures.
The issue was also raised in the Punjab Assembly. An opposition lawmaker sought clarification over the aircraft’s use for Maryam’s private London visit and questioned the legal and financial basis for the expenditure.
The controversy intensified because the trip was described as private and was made to attend Maryam’s daughter’s graduation ceremony at SOAS University of London.
Maryam, however, maintained that the aircraft is a government asset assigned to the office of the Punjab chief minister and rejected the criticism directed at her.
“Criticise me if you want. It does not make a difference to me,” she said.
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