Staff Report
LAHORE:
The Punjab Assembly makes history by electing Maryam Nawaz Sharif as its first-ever woman chief minister. She secured the elections after receiving the backing of 220 MPAs in the provincial assembly.
She failed to secure votes from her opponents in the assembly, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), as they boycotted the CM election.
Maryam, the daughter of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, has evoked a mixed reaction from the people in her province. While many welcome her to a seat that has historically been occupied by men, some perceive the challenges ahead of her as formidable.
“There are of course no surprises as far as her selection goes, and certainly Buzdar was a low bar for performance,” says a senior journalist associated with Dawn.
Afiya Shehrbano Zia says that the expectations solely placed on Maryam as a female chief minister are unnecessarily high. She adds, “The benchmark set by male chief ministers across Pakistan is not that high, after all.”
The biggest challenge facing Maryam is to carve out her own identity, separate from her ancestral legacy; as Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, she adds.
Maryam embarks on a crucial and difficult new phase in the province’s politics. The formation of the new assembly in Pakistan’s largest province is indeed a significant milestone, arising after a period of political deadlock marked by intense clashes between the PML-N and PTI for power. The assembly was dissolved on January 22, 2023, amidst the PTI’s demands for immediate polls.
She is one of the 313 newly elected representatives – including 201 of the PML-N and 98 of Sunni Ittehad Council – who took oath as members of the provincial assembly on Feb 23. She will be leading a house where the PTI is expected to oppose her management of provincial legislative affairs, and where PPP’s Syed Ali Haider Gilani will assume the role of parliamentary leader.
She emerged victorious with 23,598 votes in PP-159 Lahore. Her closest competitor was an independent candidate Mahershrafat, with 21,491 votes.
Soon after the Feb 8 elections, Maryam pledged to usher in a new era of development in Punjab during a recent parliamentary meeting of the PML-N. The meeting was attended by 137 MPAs elected on the PML-N ticket, along with 22 independents who joined the party and 54 PML-N nominees for the reserved seats.
She vowed to deliver progress on every front, particularly focusing on the health, education, and IT sectors. Maryam pledged to reintroduce health cards for free treatment of the underprivileged and ensure accessible heart, kidney, and liver treatments at all major hospitals. Additionally, she vowed to establish five IT cities in Punjab, aiming to drive technological advancement and economic growth in the province.
But political analysts greet her agenda with some skepticism. “Will she inject new thoughts, visions, and policies into Punjab’s politics?” Asks Ammar Ali Jan, youth leader and general secretary Huqooq-e-Khalq party.
A senior journalist on condition of anonymity told Voicepk that when it comes to press freedom, there is little hope. He added, the clear challenge for Maryam will be to not only manage the bureaucracy and deliver to her constituencies despite severe financial strains but also to try and win back voters.
Peter Jacob pointed out that Maryam faces a significant challenge regarding the longstanding issue of blasphemy and religious extremism in Punjab, which has persisted for the past 30 years – “She must develop a robust policy to address the misuse of religion to serve the vested interests of clergy in the province.”
Afiya Shehrbano Zia views Maryam as a courageous woman who confronts challenges directly, without resorting to exploiting religion for her advantage. “Past governments have neglected issues such as violence against transgender people and women, and it is now Maryam’s responsibility to work towards their empowerment,” she says.
“Land mafia is expanding, farmers are toiling, environment is deteriorating… She has not spoken on any of these issues. Besides, PML-N’s track record on these matters has been concerning.
He believes that her foremost priority should be to prioritise the needs of the impoverished sections of Punjab.
While celebrating Maryam’s appointment as the CM of Punjab, says Shmyla Khan, researcher and activist, “it’s imperative that her leadership transcends this milestone.”
She adds that Maryam ought to actively incorporate more women and individuals from marginalised communities into the government, particularly those emerging from impoverished backgrounds – “Her commitment to inclusivity should not only manifest in the formation of her administration but also resonate within her policies.”