Almost after 180 years, when Rani Jindan took over as queen regent in 1843, ruling on behalf of her five-year-old son Duleep Singh, Pakistan Punjab has finally got its first female chief minister, Maryam Nawaz. No mean achievement this is by any standards, in a male-dominated political setup with a super orthodox outlook towards the women. And, certainly, not a small feat in a family where every third person has been or wants to be the chief minister of Punjab province. Maryam, the 50-year-old senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, won the chief ministerial elections amidst a walkout by lawmakers of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Facing political persecution with resilience and defiance made Maryam a political force long before she began her parliamentary career. While her father Nawaz Sharif, was targeted by the Pakistan Army, Maryam was hounded with trumped-up political court cases that only served to enhance her popularity. Looking back, when in July 2018, when hundreds of paramilitary soldiers apprehended the father and daughter at Lahore airport, taking them into custody just days before the general election that year. The defiant daughter, standing next to her father and willingly accepting arrest, is what catapulted Maryam to where she is today. Going to jail before getting a political launch is the best start to the career for any Pakistani politician.
During Imran Khan’s regim, Maryam continued to be hounded with arrests, court cases, harassment and even death threats. In 2021, the government threatened and intimidated Maryam to make her fall in line. She became the face of PML-N in 2013, during Sharif’s third term as Prime Minister. While she didn’t hold any government position, she set up a Strategic Media Communications Cell in the Prime Minister’s Office and took on an honorary role as chair of the PM’s youth programme. Considering Maryam was widely recognised as Nawaz’s political heir, she was heavily disliked by the political establishment, which often conspired to link her to controversies.
With Maryam, PML-N seeks to redeem its lost glory in Punjab. In her maiden speech in Punjab’s Provincial Assembly after winning the chief minister election and taking oath, Maryam said it was the “victory of every woman, every mother, every sister”. Her first speech after her election in the Punjab assembly refreshingly touched upon the issues of religious minorities, marginalised transgender community, and care for individuals with autism. Along with, of course, the compartmentalised government plan she wishes to implement. A much-needed break from the anda-cow-murginomics of former Prime Minister Imran Khan that left us in splits but Pakistan on the brink.
Also, in yet another historic move, Maryam has expressed her commitment to implementing an economic model inspired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This decision has sparked curiosity and discussion among political analysts and citizens alike. At a press conference, she expressed ,“I believe it’s time for Pakistan to explore new economic avenues and models. Prime Minister Modi’s approach in India has shown positive results, and I am inspired by the principles of economic development he has implemented.”
As Maryam sets the stage for a new economic development in Pakistan, based on Modi’s model adds an interesting dimension to the country’s economic landscape. Only time will tell how these plans will unfold and impact Pakistan’s future.
