LAHORE: Punjab government spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan has said that propaganda campaign regarding Multan Metro Bus project is being waged on the basis of baseless allegations. He said that the company against which allegations are being leveled has no link to this project. Some sections of media are insulting political leaders without enquiring the matter, which is against the established principles of journalism, he added.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that a futile effort has been made to involve Punjab government and Punjab chief minister in this matter on the basis of fake documents in a programme of a channel. He said that according to the news channel, Chinese company Yabaite and Capital Engineering and Construction Private Limited worked directly or indirectly in Multan Metro Bus Project or were awarded contract as sub-contractor.
This matter was fully investigated and it was revealed from the record that Capital Engineering and Construction Pvt. Ltd. is neither a registered company nor it has any account. He said that those leveling baseless allegations that Capital Engineering and Construction Pvt. Ltd. got work in phase three of Multan Metro Bus Project are saying this based on lies, as neither any work has been given to such a company nor any business was given to it as a vendor.
The spokesman contradicted the accusation that Punjab government is using delaying tactics in replying to the letter of Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. He said it is necessary to clarify that first letter of SECP was received by the chief secretary and, after thorough investigations, its reply was given on March 13.
According to the news channel, CM Shehbaz Sharif gave a certificate in appreciation of Chinese company and it has his signatures, he added. He said that this letter was replied on the same day, August 16, and to say that the government wrote that this letter is fake and concocted.
Such a letter of appreciation was not issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, he added. Malik Ahmed Khan said that the attitude of the news channel is against the interest of the country, adding that making joke of public representatives should be avoided as such a campaign will leave a negative impact on country’s economy.
The spokesman said it is a matter of concern for such a news channel that it is working against the interests of the country. He said that legal notice has been served to ARY channel. He said that 48 hours have been given for proving baseless allegations true, otherwise, legal action will be taken against them.
The spokesperson further said, “We will not allow any media house to insult any noble man. If this is a media trial, then we are ready for this trial, and will give a reply to the allegations leveled in a documented form.”
If these were proved as false, then they will have to seek pardon from the people, he concluded.