Punjab CM Office Rejects RTI Request Seeking Information on Maryam Nawaz’s Luxury Jet Purchase

The Punjab Chief Minister’s office has rejected a lawyer’s requests seeking information regarding vehicles used by the current provincial chief executive, Maryam Nawaz, her foreign visits, and a luxury plane acquired by the provincial government, citing exceptions under the Right to Information (RTI) law.

The RTI law, enshrined under Article 19-A of Pakistan’s Constitution, guarantees citizens the right to access government-held information. Lawyer Abdullah Malik filed two separate applications with the Public Information Commission (PIC) – one in July 2024 and another in February 2026.

In his July 2024 application, Malik requested the following details:

• Expenditures on fuel, vehicle maintenance, and international tours, including those of the CM
• The total number of vehicles used by the CM, including their make, model, and cost
• Expenses related to the use of a helicopter or aircraft, including total mileage
• Information about the CM’s social media team, including the number of members and their salaries
• Whether the CM received approval for her foreign visits from the Ministry of Finance, and details of her Japan tour, including the officials accompanying her and the total expenses for the trip

Additionally, in his February 2026 application, the lawyer requested information regarding a Gulfstream G500 jet purchased by the Punjab government. This luxury 19-seater jet, estimated to be worth between $38 million and $42 million, has drawn severe criticism, particularly for the government’s handling of the acquisition. Initially, the Punjab administration had not commented on the purchase, but later described it as part of a proposed airline project.

The lawyer received responses to both applications earlier this month, dated April 28, 2026. Regarding the July 2024 request, the CM office’s public information officer (PIO) stated, “The desired information is not held by this office,” citing “legitimate exception” as the reason for withholding the details. The PIO referenced Section 13(1)(e) of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013, which allows the refusal of information if its disclosure is likely to cause harm to the life, health, or safety of any person.

Dawn reports that the PIC’s proceedings, shows that the PIO had repeatedly sought adjournments regarding the July request until the commission issued a strict warning on April 13, threatening penal consequences for non-compliance.

Regarding the request for information about the luxury jet, the PIO responded similarly, stating, “The desired information is not held by this office,” and the request was returned under the same provision of the RTI Act.