Shafay standing by Salik, says his brother never named CM Maryam, could be referring to systematic corruption

Punjab Commerce and Investment Minister Shafay Hussain has expressed unwavering support for his younger brother Salik Hussain, who serves as the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis. Despite the ongoing controversy between Salik and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Shafay stated he would never distance himself from his brother.

Maryam Nawaz has served Salik with a Rs5 billion defamation notice, accusing him of corruption and demanding a retraction of his remarks. Salik, however, has vowed to respond to the notice and maintain his stance. Shafay defended his brother, suggesting that he may have been privy to information about corruption that he was not previously aware of. He clarified that Salik never named Maryam Nawaz or intended to comment on her or the Punjab government, but believed he was referring to the systemic corruption that exists.

Shafay hopes both sides can diffuse misunderstandings and work towards clearing things up. Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has stated that Shafay Hussain's recent supportive interviews of Maryam Nawaz mean they have no plans to denotify him from the Punjab cabinet. However, Shafay has rejected Salik's allegations. This latest development comes amid a political split within the Chaudhry family following the removal of Imran Khan's government in 2022. While some Chaudhrys supported PTI, others, like Salik and Shafay, aligned with the Sharif family.