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LAHORE: The Punjab chief minister’s office has refused a lawyer’s requests, made under the Right to Information law, for details of vehicles in incumbent provincial chief executive Maryam Nawaz’s use, her foreign visits and a luxury plane acquired by the Punjab government.
The right to information (RTI) in Pakistan is enshrined as a fundamental right under Article 19-A of the Constitution, designed to empower citizens with access to government-held information.
Lawyer Abdullah Malik had submitted two applications with the Public Information Commission (PIC) in July 2025 and in February this year.
In his letter in July last year, he sought details of expenditure under the heads of fuel, maintenance of vehicles and tours, including international visits.
Lawyer’s applications for details of luxury jet, members of social media team also turned down
He further sought the total number of vehicles and their make, model and cost. He also wanted to learn about the expenditure on helicopters or aircraft used by the CM and their total travel mileage. He also asked for details about the total number of social media team members at the CM House, along with their salaries.
He further sought a response on whether the CM had acquired an approval for her foreign tours from the finance ministry, how many officials accompanied her on her Japan tour, as well as the expenses incurred on that visit.
Separately, in a letter in February, the lawyer sought details about a G500 jet.
The Gulfstream 19-seater jet is estimated to be worth between $38 million and $42m, and CM Maryam has faced severe criticism regarding her government’s purchase of the aircraft.
The Punjab administration had initially remained tight-lipped about the acquisition of the aircraft, but later claimed that it was part of a proposed airline project.
The lawyer received replies to both his letters earlier this month. Both responses are dated April 28.
On his July request, the CM Office’s public information officer (PIO) said: “The desired information is not held by this office.”
‘Legitimate exception’
It also cited a “legitimate exception” as a reason for not sharing the information, stating: “The information sought is exempted under Section 13(1)(e) of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013.”
Section 13(1)(e) of the Act reads: “A public information officer may refuse an application for access to information where disclosure of the information shall or is likely to cause harm to the life, health or safety of any person.”
The record of the proceedings before the PIC, available with Dawn, shows that the PIO consistently sought adjournments regarding the July request until the commission, on April 13, gave a strict warning of penal consequences in case of failure to respond.
On Mr Malik’s request for information regarding the luxury jet, the PIO responded: “It is informed that the desired information is not held by this office. The same is hereby returned under the relevant provision of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013.”
In 2021, the provision of a legitimate exception was also used as a reason to refuse a request for details of official vehicles and related records in the use of then Punjab CM Usman Buzdar, who was from the PTI. The move had drawn sharp criticism from PML-N leaders, who were in opposition at the time.
Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2026
