The role of women in Pakistan’s politics has been less than that of men. The first and only Prime Minister of the country was Ms. Benazir Bhutto. After her, Maryam Nawaz will have the honor of becoming the first possible female Chief Minister of Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab.
The Muslim League-N has won a simple majority from Punjab in the recent elections and Maryam Nawaz has been nominated by the party as a regular candidate for the Chief Ministership of Punjab, so there is a strong possibility that she will be elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Although Maryam Nawaz is the daughter of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, this will be her first experience at such a high position. On the other hand, since she has been elected as a member of the National and Provincial Assembly for the first time, analysts consider her performance indispensable for the survival of the Muslim League-N.
Her father Nawaz Sharif, uncle Shehbaz Sharif and cousin Hamza Shehbaz have served as the Chief Minister of Punjab, so she is a candidate to become the fourth Chief Minister of Punjab from the Sharif family.
Analysts believe that with the inclusion of senior leaders in the cabinet and the guidance of her elders, she is capable of running the province successfully, but it is also true that she will face many challenges.
Management challenges
Political analyst Wajahat Masood believes that Maryam Nawaz will first face the challenge of the administrative situation.
In a conversation with Independent Urdu, he said: ‘For the past several years, the people are facing difficulties due to the lack of good governance in Punjab, but the system was slightly better during the time of Shahbaz Sharif and Pervez Elahi, so Maryam Nawaz. The province will first have to be improved administratively, which will not be too difficult with the help of his father and uncle.’
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He added: ‘Maryam Nawaz faced harsh conditions during the reprisals against her father. Politically, the party has recognized him in terms of resistance in front of opponents. Then they are favorites among the workers too, so it will be a bit easier for them to work but they will have to adopt a more democratic than political approach.’
According to Wajahat: Maryam Nawaz is going to get the honor of ruling after Mrs. Benazir Bhutto. Just as Benazir Bhutto proved by becoming the prime minister that she can rule successfully in the male-dominated houses, it is hoped that Maryam Nawaz will also become a successful ruler in the houses of Punjab.
However, at the same time, he said that with the nomination of Maryam Nawaz as the Chief Minister of Punjab, it does not seem that she will raise her voice for women’s rights as soon as she comes.
According to: Wajahat Masood ‘Because in the past, they do not have any significant role in the struggle for women’s rights or social freedom.’
On the other hand, analyst Salman Ghani believes that Maryam Nawaz, who is working as the chief organizer of the party, will also perform the post of Chief Minister of Punjab in a better way.
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz waving their hands to their supporters during an election rally in Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on January 22, 2024. Giving (AFP)
In a conversation with Independent Urdu, he said: ‘Maryam Nawaz was made the chief organizer of the Muslim League-N by party leader Nawaz Sharif before the elections. He played a prominent role in organizing and unifying the party. Now by becoming the chief minister, she will be able to run the system of the province in a better way, but she will have to keep the senior leaders who succeeded from Punjab with her in the cabinet.
Among the former provincial ministers of PML-N who were successful from Punjab, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Imran Nazir, Mujtabi Shujaur Rehman and others have been successful, while Uzma Bukhari, Bushra Anjum Butt, Hina Parvez Butt and others were considered close to Maryam Nawaz on specific seats. goes, so she is likely to include experienced and trusted members in the cabinet.
From Resistance to Democratic Politics
Salman Ghani says that the future of PML-N will not only depend on Maryam Nawaz, but also the future of PML-N because Nawaz Sharif also became Minister of Defense after becoming the Chief Minister of Punjab and Shahbaz Sharif also became the Prime Minister of Punjab after succeeding in the post of Chief Minister of Punjab. He became the Prime Minister while maintaining it at the federal level.
He said that ‘Nawaz Sharif himself has nominated Shehbaz Sharif instead of becoming the candidate for the Prime Ministership, while Maryam Nawaz has been nominated as the candidate for the Chief Minister of Punjab. This strategy suggests that Maryam Nawaz has been appointed as the political heir of PML-N in the future.
At the same time, he said: ‘As in the past, the political role has to be changed in a democratic way. This time, a large number of oppositions from her opposite party are coming to the House, whose target will also be to affect the performance of Maryam Nawaz, so Maryam will have to deal with them in a democratic manner.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Party Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz responding to the applause of the workers during the PML-N Central Council meeting (PML-N Media).
He further said that ‘just as Maryam Nawaz faced difficult situations together with her mother Kulsoom Nawaz in the actions against her father. Then he has endured the hardships of imprisonment together with his father, in such a situation he must have understood the political and democratic stakes.
On the other hand, Wajah Masood says that Maryam Nawaz has an unusual reference in the field of politics that she is the daughter of Nawaz Sharif. This reference will also create ease for them and will also cause severe opposition in front of the opponents. Therefore, they have to prove that they are also capable of facing difficulties and opponents in a democratic manner like their elders.
He said that when Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister, Maryam Nawaz was also accused of running a separate media house from the Prime Minister’s House. Now while working in a big position like the Chief Minister, he has to avoid such actions, which can cause problems for his position.’
According to Wajahat Masood: ‘The biggest challenge for Maryam Nawaz will be how on the basis of excellent performance she can be able to reach the position of Prime Minister by bringing success to the party in the future. . If they fail, the future of their party will also be dark with them.’
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