Punjab CM Office Denies RTI Requests on Maryam Nawaz's Tours, Vehicles, and Luxury Jet Acquisition

In a move that raises serious questions about transparency and accountability, the Punjab Chief Minister's office has stonewalled a lawyer's attempts to access crucial information regarding the official expenditures and assets of the provincial government, particularly concerning Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

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The desired information is not held by this office.

Lawyer Abdullah Malik, utilizing Pakistan's Right to Information (RTI) law—enshrined as a fundamental right under Article 19-A of the Constitution—submitted multiple applications seeking details on vehicle usage, foreign travel costs, and the controversial acquisition of a luxury G500 jet. The Punjab administration's refusal to provide this information, citing vague exceptions and claiming the data is not held by the office, directly undermines the spirit and intent of the RTI Act.

The CM's office's responses, dated April 28, are particularly concerning. For the July request, the Public Information Officer (PIO) stated the information was not held and cited "legitimate exception" under section 13(1)(e) of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013. This section allows refusal if disclosure could harm the life, health, or safety of any person—a justification that appears tenuous at best for details on travel and vehicle expenses.

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The information sought is excepted under section 13(1)(e) of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013.

Similarly, for the February request concerning the G500 jet—an aircraft estimated to cost between $38 million and $42 million and which has already drawn significant public criticism—the PIO offered the same response: the information is not held by the office. This echoes past instances, such as the refusal to provide details on former CM Usman Buzdar's official vehicles using similar justifications. Such opacity fuels public suspicion and suggests a reluctance to be held accountable for how taxpayer money is being spent, particularly on high-value assets like a luxury jet.

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The desired information is not held by this office. The same is hereby returned under the relevant provision of Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013.