Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Wednesday advised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz against playing the "woman card" in politics. Speaking to a private TV channel, the minister said that the CM's remarks about him were inappropriate for a person holding public office.

Hussain said that the CM had issued the statement because of misinformation. He also made it clear that he would not withdraw his earlier statement concerning corruption in Punjab, insisting that what he had said was "based on facts."

"I will never withdraw my statement because it is the truth," Hussain said. Referring to his earlier remarks about corruption, the federal minister said there should have been zero tolerance for the menace from the very first day.

He added that corruption had not come to an end following his statement; rather, it had become more visible. "Corruption has not ended after my statement; it has come out more openly," he said.

Hussain also advised the Punjab CM to seek guidance from her father on how to respond when someone points out an issue. "She should ask her father how one should respond when someone points out something," he said.

The minister further alleged that an attempt had previously been made to remove his father, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, from the presidency of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). Responding to a question about the matter, Hussain said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had not contacted him regarding the controversy.

Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah described Hussain as a "gentleman" and an honourable man, but suggested that he had been influenced by claims circulating among people he associates with. Rana said people in Hussain's social circles might be discussing theories about alleged developments, adding that the minister may have heard such claims during gatherings.

"I know the people he associates with, which is why he may have heard these things from them," Rana said. He said it was inappropriate for a federal minister, whose brother also serves as a provincial minister, to make remarks suggesting that files were being prepared against people.

"We have heard such claims in every era - that files are being prepared and everything is being recorded. But no evidence has ever emerged," he said.

Rana added that he believed Hussain had made the remarks after being influenced by such claims. He said Punjab CM Maryam was justified in responding to Hussain's remarks, adding that her response had been courageous.

"My conscience tells me that only someone who is speaking the truth can respond with such confidence," he said. Rana said no one could claim that corruption had been completely eliminated at the lower levels of government, including among police station officers, patwaris, and clerks.

He added, however, that the Punjab chief minister had never claimed that corruption at the grassroots level had been eradicated. Referring to the federal minister's interview, Rana said his remarks had been directed at the provincial government and the chief minister.

Citing the case of Mahmood Qadir Leghari, Rana described the allegations as an attempt to gain attention. He said Leghari was a close relative of Federal Minister Awais Leghari and had approached him two or three times seeking a party ticket for a by-election.

Rana concluded that it was unfair of Leghari to make such allegations.