Punjab minister Shafay Hussain distances himself from brother Salik

Punjab Commerce and Investment Minister Shafay Hussain has distanced himself from his younger brother, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Salik Hussain, after Salik levelled corruption allegations against the Punjab government of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Dawn reported from Lahore.

The two brothers now stand on opposite sides of the dispute. Salik Hussain sits in the federal cabinet; his allegations were aimed at the provincial government led by Maryam Nawaz. Shafay Hussain holds the commerce and investment portfolio in that same provincial cabinet.

Dawn reported that Shafay Hussain's recent interviews were supportive of the chief minister, and that this had reportedly saved his place in the Punjab cabinet. The paper described the distance he has put between himself and his brother as apparent.

Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari, a colleague of Shafay Hussain in the provincial cabinet, told Dawn: "Shafay Hussain's recent interviews have been supportive of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, so we have no plan to denotify him from the Punjab cabinet."

As information minister, Bokhari speaks for the provincial government on cabinet matters.

The overseas Pakistanis portfolio held by Salik Hussain covers the welfare of Pakistani nationals abroad, including consular matters and remittances. Punjab, which Maryam Nawaz governs, is the country's most populous province and returns the largest bloc of seats in the National Assembly.

Salik Hussain levelled the corruption allegations against the provincial government a few days before Dawn's report was published, according to the paper. The report did not set out their substance.