MARYAM NAWAZ’S RISE IN PML-N RANKS 'UPSETS' PARTY LEADERS


Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was "undemocratically" promoted to the position of senior vice-president and main organizer of the party. This did not sit well with the party's senior stalwarts.

After her father, Nawaz Sharif, and her uncle Shehbaz Sharif, the current prime minister, Maryam is now the third most influential person in the party because of the appointment.

Sources claim that several prominent second-tier PML-N leaders are unhappy with the selection and cite a lack of consultation as one of the primary factors fueling their unhappiness.

Under the condition of anonymity, a senior PML-N politician told that "this decision is undemocratic and is intended to strengthen the political dynasty of the Sharifs." He disclosed that, aside from the Sharif family, very few prominent leaders were contacted before the decision was made.

In the party hierarchy, Maryam now sits above senior PML-N figures including Khawaja Asif, Tanvir Hussain, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, and Raja Zafarul Haq. Before the choice, the party had more than a dozen vice presidents, including Maryam, but Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was its only senior vice president.

Under the condition of anonymity, another party leader criticized the choice, saying: "Only the Sharif family or those close to them have the first right to hold every key party or government job."

In addition, Hamza Shehbaz, the oldest son of PM Shehbaz and the head of the opposition in Punjab, was appointed chief minister of Punjab last year alongside his father in the prime minister's residence.

Many party members, according to sources, believe that Khawaja Saad Rafique and Malik Ahmad Khan would have made much better options for Punjab's chief executive than Hamza, who would likely only hold the position for a few months.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is another close member of the Sharif family with clout in the party. He also serves as the head of the PML-international N's branch.

On the other hand, Capt (R) Safdar, Maryam's husband and Nawaz's son-in-law, is in charge of the PML-N Youth Wing.

A PML-N leader claims that Junaid Safdar, Maryam's son, is also being promoted to the N-future League by the party's social media staff. Junaid hasn't yet entered politics, though.

When Junaid joins politics, the senior PML-N leadership outside of the Sharif family will even be subject to him, according to a party source, who also noted that democracy has fallen by the wayside in terms of PML-N internal politics.