A constitutional petition filed in the Lahore High Court seeks full disclosure of Punjab government’s advertising expenditures, including campaigns featuring Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, citing citizens’ constitutional right to access public information.
LAHORE: The Punjab government is facing legal scrutiny after a constitutional petition was filed in the Lahore High Court seeking complete details of public funds spent on advertising and publicity campaigns, particularly those featuring Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The petition, submitted by Barrister Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi under Article 199 of Pakistan’s Constitution, alleges that repeated requests for the information through official channels went unanswered. The petitioner claims that both the Punjab Information and Culture Department and the Punjab Information Commission failed to provide the requested records.
According to the petition, withholding the information violates Article 19A of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to access public information. The filing asks the court to order the Punjab government to disclose all advertising and publicity expenditures made since February 26, 2024.
The requested records include the total number of advertisements, overall spending from public funds, and a detailed breakdown by department, month, year, and advertising platform. It also seeks expenditure details for television, print, digital, social media, billboards, banners, and hoardings.
Additionally, the petitioner has requested disclosure of contracts awarded to advertising agencies, media buying firms, procurement procedures, payment records, and production costs for promotional campaigns featuring the chief minister. The petition also seeks information on the staffing and monthly expenses of social media teams managing the chief minister’s official accounts across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.
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