LHC plea seeks details of funds spent on Maryam Nawaz publicity campaigns
A writ petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking complete details of public money spent on the media and publicity campaigns of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The petitioner has also challenged the Punjab government’s refusal to provide the requested information.
The petition was filed by lawyer and social activist Barrister Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi. He argued that taxpayers have the right to know how public funds have been used for publicity across print, electronic and digital media.
Before approaching the court, the petitioner submitted right-to-information applications to the Punjab Information and Culture Department, the Finance Department, and the Director General Public Relations (DGPR). He requested detailed records of expenditures made from Feb 26, 2024, until the present.
The application sought information about advertisements, promotional material and campaigns carrying the chief minister’s name, image or video. It also asked for a complete breakdown of expenses on all media platforms.
According to the petition, seeking relief from the Punjab Information Commission would not be effective. It claimed the commission’s commissioners serve at the discretion of the government, raising concerns about its independence.
The petitioner also referred to a Supreme Court judgment, saying access to information is a fundamental right rather than an administrative favour. He argued that transparency in government spending is essential for a democratic system.
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The petition further stated that keeping details of large publicity campaigns secret amounts to a constitutional violation and misuse of public trust. It requested the court to direct the Punjab government to release complete records of publicity campaigns, contracts and expenditure details in the interest of justice, fairness and transparency.
The case focuses on transparency and the public’s right to know how government money is spent. The Lahore High Court’s decision could influence how future requests for official spending records are handled.
