Pakistan Markazi Muslim League has sent a legal notice to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over what it describes as allegedly baseless, fabricated and defamatory accusations against the party. The notice was issued on the instructions of party president Khalid Masood Sandhu by lawyers Muhammad Amir Habib, Rana Muhammad Abdul Hafeez and Sheikh Muhammad Naeem Mazhar, Advocate High Court, of Pak Law Firm. It demands an unconditional apology and deletion of social media posts within seven days.

The notice states that Maryam Safdar, resident of Jati Umra, Raiwind Road, and currently residing at 7 Club, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore, called Pakistan Markazi Muslim League a terrorist, illegal and banned organization on her personal Twitter (X) account and during public addresses carried by electronic media. It says the remarks were repeatedly broadcast on television channels and published in print media, and describes them as baseless and false attempts to damage the reputation of a legally registered political party.

The notice says Pakistan Markazi Muslim League is registered with the Election Commission and has participated in the democratic process under the country’s Constitution and laws since 2022. It says the party established welfare camps for poor people, widows and others in need during floods and other natural disasters, and runs several projects in education, health and the provision of clean drinking water. The party contested the 2024 general election with the chair as its electoral symbol and, the notice says, recently emerged as the second-largest political party in the November 8, 2026 by-election in NA-77 Gujranwala.

The notice states that every citizen has the right to freedom of expression under the Constitution, but that this right is subject to limits set by law and does not permit anyone to accuse a recognized political party of serious offences such as terrorism without legal evidence. It says such irresponsible statements are creating public misunderstandings, violating party workers’ democratic rights and damaging the leadership’s reputation, and may constitute actionable defamation. In the notice sent to the Punjab chief minister, the party demands that she immediately stop making, publishing or circulating any false, defamatory or insulting statements against the registered political party.

It also calls for the immediate deletion of all defamatory posts, videos, comments and other material shared on X or any other platform, and for the public withdrawal of allegations describing the party as terrorist or illegal. The notice further demands an unconditional written and public apology to the party’s leadership, members and supporters through the same platforms and media outlets. It also calls for a written assurance that she will not repeat, publish or circulate similar defamatory allegations through any channel, and for all records, posts, messages and videos relating to the disputed statements to be preserved.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)