LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has served a legal notice on PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bokhari, asking her to tender an apology for levelling ‘baseless’ allegations of corruption in posting and transfer of bureaucrats in the province.

In case of her failure in tendering the apology within 14 days, a suit for damages to the tune of Rs250 million will be filed before a court of law, the notice says.

Ms Bokhari had accused chief minister’s principal secretary of receiving bribes against postings and transfers. “Some officials are openly saying that they have got positions after paying bribe to the CM office,” she had claimed.

The legal notice says Ms Bokhari has levelled false and frivolous allegations against the chief minister and his principal secretary Tahir Khurshid for posting civil servants in exchange for money.

Responding, Ms Bokhari told the media she was not going to seek an apology as this case might give her party an opportunity to expose CM Usman Buzdar and make public scandals like the liquor licence and the Rawalpindi Ring Road.

The PML-N spokesperson said the chief minister should rather seek an apology for making false promises.

She regretted that the courts were not taking suo motu notices of corruption of the incumbent government.

Ms Bokhari, meanwhile, wanted Prime Minister Imran Khan to reply to a notice served on him by Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2021