Punjab Minister Sheer Ali Gorchani’s Alleged Deal Video Goes Viral; CM Maryam Nawaz Takes Action

Islamabad:A video allegedly showing Punjab’s Minister for Minerals, Sheer Ali Gorchani, engaging in a deal with a contractor has gone viral on social media. In the video, the provincial minister appears to promise the contractor that a mineral block will be awarded through an auction, and mentions a meeting scheduled in Lahore on Sunday.

In response to the viral video, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken immediate action. She has issued a show-cause notice to Minister Sheer Ali Gorchani and formed a five-member committee to investigate the matter. The committee has been tasked with presenting its report to the Chief Minister as soon as possible.

Minister Sheer Ali Gorchani has defended himself, stating that the video is four months old and denies any involvement in corruption. He explained that the conversation shown in the video was meant to reassure an interested party and that the process for awarding mineral leases is conducted through auctions. Gorchani emphasized that any such dealings would be thoroughly transparent and that he has not engaged in any form of corruption.

The Chief Minister’s intervention underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the need for accountability in public office. This situation also recalls past controversies, such as the 2014 claim by opposition members that Gorchani, then Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, had illegally occupied 6,686 acres of forest land.