“Maryam Bibi Proudly Said She Spent Nearly Rs 30 Million on the London Plane Trip” — Asad Umar Reacts
Lahore (Qudrat Daily): Political leader and former minister Asad Umar has said, “Maryam Bibi! Do you not fear Allah, spending so extravagantly and then proudly beating drums about it?” In his reaction on X, he said that Maryam Bibi proudly stated that she spent nearly Rs 30 million (2.75 crore) on taking the plane to London. He added, “Bibi, according to a government report, one crore more people in your province have fallen below the poverty line. Do you not fear Allah, spending so lavishly and then proudly boasting about it, when the people of your province are facing such severe hardships?”
Similarly, senior journalist Hamid Mir, speaking on his program on Geo News, said that today the Chief Minister of Punjab’s speech at an event had a very bitter tone. He said that people are deeply distressed over why the Chief Minister went to London on her own plane, and she also leveled allegations against her critics.
However, it is respectfully submitted that there is considerable contradiction in her position, so the Punjab Chief Minister should herself reflect on the contradictions in her statements. A few days ago, she had stated in London that she was on vacation; today, to justify the personal use of her official plane, she said that a Chief Minister is never on vacation. The statements of her fellow ministers also do not match. One female minister had said that this plane was purchased for Air Punjab — “we have to build a flat; for Air Punjab we will have to buy planes or take them on lease.”
On the other hand, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif showed the receipt for the plane’s fare payment at a public gathering. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the electric bus in Multan, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that she paid Rs 2.75 crore for using the plane to attend her daughter’s graduation ceremony. She said she paid for the plane’s fuel, parking, and other dues from her own pocket. She stated, “I am not answerable to vloggers and YouTubers; I am answerable to Allah Almighty and then to the people.”
She said, “Let them keep speaking against me; if criticising Maryam Nawaz puts bread on someone’s table, then let it continue. If you are earning dollars, what difference does it make to me? I have paid the fare and shown the receipt to everyone. I will not remain Chief Minister forever. Before becoming Chief Minister, I used to travel on commercial flights. Before buying a plane, I used to travel on rented planes.”
She asked, “If I have to go on a visit, which plane will I travel on? Was I not present among the people during the floods? The plane is not Maryam Nawaz’s, but the Punjab Chief Minister’s. All four provincial Chief Ministers have planes — why is only Maryam Nawaz being criticised? Criticism is being made that I should not travel by plane — so should I travel by Chingchi, motorcycle, or metro bus? I work day and night and fall asleep while working. After Multan, how will I go to Sargodha, Pindi, and Bhakkar? A Chief Minister’s time is very precious. Many rulers travel on official planes for personal visits. To serve the people and for development, one has to travel to far-flung areas of the province. There is also a need to visit China, Turkey, and Japan for our people.”
