On March 12, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza Malik filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging media advertisements showcasing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The petition, submitted through her legal counsel, argued that the premier and the chief minister were “using public funds for personal promotion,” which contradicted a Supreme Court decision. The petition stated that the government should follow the apex court ruling regarding advertisements.

“The utilization of money from the national exchequer on the publicity of personal achievements is illegal and unconstitutional. It also amounts to the violation of the Supreme Court (SC) verdict,” read the petition.

It further asserted that no policy exists regarding advertisements for government projects and stated that the use of state funds for personal publicity was unconstitutional. Additionally, the plea sought the development of a policy for the publication of government ads and sought recovery of public funds allegedly used for personal publicity.

The LHC has already issued notices to the government on two similar petitions regarding a 60-page advertisement supplement featuring the Punjab chief minister on March 7. The petitions, filed by Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmad Khan Bhachar and activist Ashba Kamran, challenge the alleged use of public funds for personal publicity of Maryam Nawaz and her father, former premier Nawaz Sharif.

The Punjab government has defended the advertisement campaign, with Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari dismissing the criticism by PTI as “propaganda.”