LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, has stated that those making noise about hardships in jail are enjoying extraordinary privileges.
“They have access to personal chefs, customised menus and daily exercise routines,” Azma said while addressing a press conference at DGPR Wednesday.
She remarked that the founder of the “Big Party” has become so powerless that he is now seen pleading for re-tweets of his tweets — a reflection not of politics but of sheer desperation.
Commenting on the state of affairs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azma Bokhari said billion-rupee corruption scandals have become a daily occurrence and the public is deeply disappointed with the performance of CM Gandapur. She added that the people of KP now aspire for a visionary and action-oriented Chief Minister like Maryam Nawaz, who is delivering for Punjab.
Highlighting Punjab’s governance model, Bokhari announced the formation of the PERA Force—a special, independent task force established to eliminate encroachments, control artificial inflation, and combat hoarding.
Launched two days ago in Lahore Division, the force comprises over 50,000 trained personnel, has its investigation cell, and will ensure transparent inquiry and accountability across Punjab, she added.
Referring to the recent controversial remarks by Salman Akram Raja regarding PTI’s Aliya Hamza, Bokhari criticised his tone, comparing it to that of an aggressive police officer rather than a composed legal analyst. She lamented that within PTI, dignity and influence appear to be confined to a select few women, such as Bushra Bibi, Farah Gogi, and Aleema Khan, while other members are reduced to social media sloganeers.
Quoting recent survey results, Azma Bokhari said that 71% of the population in Punjab has expressed confidence in Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, while KP citizens have themselves accused their provincial government of rampant corruption.
Speaking on the ongoing monsoon season, she expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives due to the recent heavy rains recorded across multiple regions. She urged citizens to exercise caution around exposed electrical wiring and flooded areas. In Punjab, she noted, water drainage operations have been efficiently managed, with the Minister for Local Government and the MD WASA personally supervising field operations.
Azma Bokhari also addressed the current inflationary pressures, acknowledging that rising fuel and electricity prices have caused distress among citizens. She clarified, however, that such decisions are never made willingly by any government and are a consequence of strict IMF conditionalities. “We pray for relief from this IMF program as soon as possible,” she said.
She concluded by saying that peaceful protest is a constitutional right—as exemplified by Jamaat-e-Islami—but bringing weapons, slingshots, and marbles to protests in an attempt to incite violence is unacceptable and must be condemned.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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