LAHORE(National Times)- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz\u2019s use of the provincial government\u2019s jet during her recent private visit to London has triggered a fresh controversy, with opposition leaders questioning the use of an official aircraft for a family event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CM Maryam travelled to London last week to attend the graduation ceremony of her daughter Mahnoor and returned to Lahore on Wednes\u00adday. The government insists the CM bore all expenses of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to criticism that the CM used the official jet for a private visit, Punjab Inf\u00adormation Minister Azma Bokhari rejected the allegation. \u201cAbsolutely incorrect. The Punjab chief minister paid all expenses for her London trip out of her own pocket,\u201d she said in a post on X on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her stay in London, CM Maryam also faced questions about the debate over the creation of new provinces. However, she avoided gi\u00ad\u00adving a detailed response, saying she would speak on the issue after ret\u00adur\u00adning home and holding consultations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Says Maryam Nawaz bore all expenses after opposition calls out use of govt resources for private visit<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked about her earlier statement that Punjab was facing a threat of terrorism from its provincial borders, she said: \u201cPunjab is facing a threat from incompetence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, continued to target the chief minister over her use of the official aircraft. Former federal minister and PTI leader Moonis Elahi, in a post on X, linked the controversy to the rising cost of fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2019-manufactured Gulf\u00adstream G500, reportedly valued at around $38 million to $42m \u2014 more than Rs10 billion \u2014 has remained under scrutiny ever since reports emerged about its acquisition by the provincial government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahnoor\u2019s nikkah on Saturday<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, CM Maryam Nawaz\u2019s daughter Mahnoor is set to tie the knot on Saturday, with her nikkah ceremony scheduled to be held at the Sharif family\u2019s residence in Jati Umra, a family source told Dawn on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the source, Mah\u00adnoor\u2019s marriage has been arranged with a member of a prominent business family. The ceremony is expec\u00adted to be a private family affair, with only close relatives and members of the extended family attending.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE(National Times)- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz\u2019s use of the provincial government\u2019s jet during her recent private visit to London has triggered a fresh controversy, with opposition leaders questioning the use of an official aircraft for a family event. CM Maryam travelled to London last week to attend the graduation ceremony of her daughter Mahnoor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132866,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n