The post-election period in Pakistan has had everyone on tenterhooks, as no party secured a simple majority in the National Assembly, and painstaking negotiations between major parties to form a coalition took longer than expected. In this scenario, Maryam Nawaz’s nomination for the position of chief minister of Punjab came as welcome news. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) made a historic decision as this is the first time a woman has been nominated for the highest political office in Punjab.
Born on 28 October 1973 in Lahore to Mian Nawaz Sharif and his wife Kulsoom, Maryam Nawaz has emerged as a prominent leader within the PML-N, wielding considerable influence and re-shaping the trajectory of politics, particularly in the province of Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz entered politics through her family’s longstanding involvement in Pakistani politics and their struggle against political persecution, which she resisted to her best. As the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the granddaughter of Muhammad Sharif, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist, Maryam Nawaz was exposed to politics from a young age. Her father’s leadership of the PML-N provided her with a platform to become increasingly involved in political activities.
Many falsely claim that Maryam Nawaz’s strong position is due to her father’s profile and accuse her of being a beneficiary of dynastic politics. They forget that while Maryam Nawaz Sharif carried her family’s legacy, she acquired her position through her own struggle. Here are some key contributions that led her towards success.
Almost all senior party leaders were booked in bogus cases and the powers that be tried to wipe PML-N from the political landscape. At this time, Maryam gathered forces and built momentum to fight the injustice being done to her family, party, and the Pakistani public, whose mandate was stolen in the 2018 election.
After the 2013 election, then-Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was busy improving governance and crafting long-term policies, while Maryam Nawaz took on the responsibility of modernising the conventional dynamics of the party. In the era of digital connectivity, the PML-N was far behind in using social media platforms to connect with members and voters. Maryam Nawaz was the one who established a well-organised social media team within the party. Her involvement has been instrumental in shaping the party’s online presence and communications with the public, with thousands of volunteers from around the globe. Her embrace of social media and digital platforms has helped the party connect with younger generations, who are increasingly influential in shaping political discourse.
During her official visit to the US with then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2015, she advocated for the rights of Pakistani girls for schooling and managed to secure substantial funding of $70 million to educate adolescent girls in Pakistan. Her advocacy convinced then-First Lady Michelle Obama to include Pakistan in the “Let Girls Learn” programme. About two million girls in Pakistan benefitted from this initiative. The project provided scholarships for girls to attend a year of high school in the US and live with a host family. For the under-represented girls of 13 to 18 years of age, two-year programmes of after-school classes and intensive immersion activities were started, to establish a foundation of English language skills. The project also created economic opportunities through skill building and training, securing income and employment for girls.
In 2018, political persecution of the Sharif family and PML-N’s senior leadership was at its peak. When the leadership resisted, Mian Nawaz Sharif, along with Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar, was sentenced to jail in a fabricated corruption case. At the time of this verdict, Maryam Nawaz was in London, but instead of taking asylum there, she bravely came to Pakistan and surrendered to authorities despite knowing that she was falsely sentenced.
Those in power tried to demoralise her by preventing her from seeing her father in jail but she endured the torture. At that time she received the painful news of her mother’s passing. She and her father had not been allowed to contact their family to inquire about Kulsoom Nawaz’s health, who had been gravely ill when they returned from London. Only when she passed did the authorities relent and allow the father and daughter to attend her funeral. Later, in September 2022, Islamabad High Court dismissed the case against Maryam and her husband due to lack of evidence.
Maryam Nawaz raised public awareness about issues such as political victimisation, judicial independence, and the erosion of democratic norms, prompting public discourse and scrutiny of PTI’s government actions. Her powerful voice at a time of immense oppression kept her party relevant.
Her fight against baseless allegations and political victimisation groomed her. Almost all senior party leaders were booked in bogus cases and the powers that be tried to wipe PML-N from the political landscape. At this time, Maryam gathered forces and built momentum to fight the injustice being done to her family, party, and the Pakistani public, whose mandate was stolen in the 2018 election.
Through her dynamic presence, Maryam Nawaz energised the party base. The PTI government and their backers did everything to break her resolve but she continued to forge ahead. In the process, she faced character assassination and relentless vilification campaigns. Still, she proved herself to be a worthy successor to her father and continued to surprise her opponents by pulling massive crowds at her public rallies.
The PML-N is enjoying the fruit of Maryam Nawaz’s relentless struggle. She was a rallying point for the opposition to unite against attempts to undermine democracy and civil liberties. Her leadership provided inspiration and motivation for others within the party and the broader opposition movement at the time. She helped galvanise PML-N and developed a sense of purpose among its members, particularly in the face of external pressures.
Through her advocacy and statements, Maryam Nawaz raised public awareness about issues such as political victimisation, judicial independence, and the erosion of democratic norms, prompting public discourse and scrutiny of PTI’s government actions. Her powerful voice at a time of immense oppression kept her party relevant.
Acknowledging her efforts, the party designated her senior vice president and chief organiser. She proved herself in organisational matters by improvising the structural hierarchy and wings. She immediately activated all the dormant party wings such as students, women, youth, teachers, minorities, etc. In less than a year, the party was ready to go into election. The reason behind PML-N’s return to power in Punjab is Maryam Nawaz’s organisational skills; even opponents cannot discredit her.
After getting elected as chief minister, Maryam Nawaz has announced a comprehensive development agenda for Punjab. For the youth, it includes interest-free loans and employment opportunities, anti-harassment measures and a safe environment for women at the workplace, a modern traffic management system, a revolution in agriculture for farmers, and up-gradation of facilities in basic health units, among others initiatives. Her agenda also includes education reforms, welfare programmes for special children, the establishment of safe city authorities, and sanitation and road maintenance systems throughout Punjab. It is hoped that she would revive PML-N’s flagship initiatives related to women’s empowerment, such as the long-dormant Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, and declare maternal mortality a provincial emergency.
The absence of a female chief minister in Punjab in the past reflects the broader challenges women face in accessing leadership roles in politics. It highlights the need for greater gender equality and opportunities for women in positions of power and decision-making. Maryam Nawaz’s presence in the chief minister’s office would encourage more women to participate in politics and help strengthen democratic representation.
The writer is a political activist and works in youth development.