LAHORE: The Government of Punjab has decided to initiate legal proceedings against individuals and platforms spreading what it termed false claims about the use of the provincial government’s official aircraft.

Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a post on X that a “deliberate and malicious campaign of lies and fabricated stories” was being carried out by what she described as “known pathological liars and peddlers of fake news”.

She said the provincial government would approach courts under the Punjab Defamation Law 2024 against every individual and platform involved in spreading the alleged disinformation.

“Disinformation will no longer go unanswered. Those who think they can malign institutions and mislead the public without consequence should prepare to face the law,” Aurangzeb said.

She added that the government would seek the maximum penalty under the law, stressing that “fake news is not journalism but defamation”.

The controversy emerged after reports about the provincial government’s procurement of a Gulfstream G500 reportedly worth around Rs10 billion.

The move has drawn criticism from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which alleged that the aircraft was meant for the personal use of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

However, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari earlier rejected the claims, saying the aircraft was part of the proposed Air Punjab initiative aimed at developing a provincial fleet.

According to aviation sources, the jet with American registration number N144S arrived in Lahore on December 28 after travelling from North America to Hurghada before landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport.

The aircraft remained parked at the airport for about 40 days for interior refurbishment before making its first domestic flight on February 6 from Lahore to Multan.

Since then, it has operated several flights under the call sign “PUNJAB2” to destinations including Quetta, Mianwali, Sialkot and Rawalpindi.