Controversy Erupts Over Flag Featuring CM Maryam Nawaz’s Image at Kharian College

KHARIAN: A controversy has emerged after a flag bearing the image of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was hoisted atop the Government Graduate College Kharian building in place of the national flag, sparking sharp criticism from political circles and social media users.

The incident came to light on October 14, 2025, when viral images on social media showed the college displaying a flag featuring Maryam Nawaz’s picture. Critics called it “an insult to the national flag” and accused the administration of engaging in “political propaganda.”

**Education Department’s Response**
Following the backlash, the Punjab Higher Education Department issued a show-cause notice to the college principal. According to the notice, the flag was hoisted without approval from the competent authority, an act described as “negligence and mismanagement.” The flag has since been removed from the college building.

Director Colleges Shoaib Ashiq Butt stated that the unauthorized display of the Chief Minister’s image on a public institution’s premises violated administrative protocols.

**Public and Social Media Reaction**
The use of Maryam Nawaz’s image in official campaigns has drawn criticism multiple times during her tenure. Since taking office in March 2024, her photos have appeared prominently on government buses, hospitals, and development project advertisements—actions the opposition has labeled as “personal publicity using public funds.”

Recently, relief packages for Punjab’s flood victims also featured her image, prompting objections from the PPP and PTI, who termed it “inappropriate to politicize humanitarian aid.”

Earlier this year, posters featuring Maryam Nawaz alongside “Health Reform” slogans were displayed in Lahore’s government hospitals, which social media users derisively called “showmanship,” urging that public institutions should remain free from personal branding.