The Punjab government has announced it will initiate legal proceedings against individuals and media platforms accused of spreading disinformation regarding the use of its official aircraft. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated the province will approach the courts under the recently enacted Defamation Law 2024.
Campaign Against “Fake News”
In a statement on social media platform X, Aurangzeb denounced what she called a “deliberate and malicious campaign of lies and fabricated stories” by “known pathological liars and peddlers of fake news.” She asserted that the government would seek the maximum penalty available under the law.
“Disinformation will no longer go unanswered,” Aurangzeb warned. “Those who think they can malign institutions and mislead the public without consequence should prepare to face the law.” She emphasized that the government’s action aims to establish that “fake news is not journalism but defamation.”
Controversy Over Gulfstream Jet
The legal threat follows a political controversy surrounding the Punjab government’s acquisition of a Gulfstream G500 business jet, reportedly valued at approximately Rs10 billion. The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has alleged the aircraft was procured for the exclusive personal use of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari has previously rejected these claims, stating the jet is part of a broader initiative to develop a provincial fleet under the proposed “Air Punjab” project. According to Bokhari, the plan involves purchasing some aircraft and leasing others for official use.
Jet’s Journey and Usage
Aviation sources and flight tracking data indicate the seven-year-old jet, with American registration N144S, arrived in Lahore on December 28 after a journey from North America via Egypt. The aircraft reportedly remained parked at Allama Iqbal International Airport for about 40 days for interior refurbishment.
Since early February, the jet has undertaken several domestic flights under the call sign “PUNJAB2,” traveling to destinations including Multan, Quetta, Mianwali, Sialkot, and Rawalpindi. The government maintains these are official trips, countering allegations of personal use.
The move to invoke the Defamation Law 2024 marks a significant escalation in the government’s response to criticism over the jet’s procurement, setting the stage for a legal battle over media reporting and political accountability.
