World

Watch: Is Maryam Nawaz’s political rise dividing PML-N in an election year?

Maryam Nawaz’s return to Islamabad after four months in London has caused a flutter in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Her return is being ascribed to not just elections in Punjab, the most important province in Pakistan, but also heralds the possible return of her father Nawaz Sharif, the former Pakistani prime minister, to his homeland from the UK.


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also her uncle, had appointed Maryam as the Senior Vice President of the PML-N in January this year, inviting her to “reorganise” the party. Her elevation led to former prime minister and senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi putting in his papers from the party leadership.


Abbasi’s resignation and Maryam’s elevation has led to speculation that former finance minister Miftah Ismail, who has lately been critical of his party, too might leave the party. Ismail has been particularly harsh, and also vocal, in the way his replacement Ishaq Dar has been handling the economy and tackling the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at a time when the Pakistani economy has run aground.


Even as the Sharif family tightens its grip on the party, the two miffed leaders–Abbasi and Ismail–are charting out their own course. They are planning a series of discussions across the country to focus on the herculean challenges–economy, terrorism, insurgencies, inflation and food shortage–that their country is facing.


Meanwhile Maryam is busy tackling the unease within the party as many .

In Pakistan’s muddy politics, Maryam had faced slogan shouting by the supporters of former prime minister and cricketer Imran Khan’s supporters in London.

Also read: Afghan-Pak rift widens after deadly Peshawar suicide bombing

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visits UAE, thanks leadership for extending support following Pahalgam Terror attack

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri paid a visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE on June 10. His…

6 hours ago

23 injured Indians transferred to Nairobi, post-mortem of 5 Indians completed: Indian Embassy in Qatar

The Indian Embassy in Qatar provided updates on the unfortunate accident which took place in…

8 hours ago

EAM Jaishankar meets European Parliament President Roberta Metsola; discusses trade, strategic partnerships

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola,…

9 hours ago

India stresses free Indo-Pacific, joint action on terror at EAS meet in Malaysia

Secretary (East) P. Kumaran led the Indian delegation at the East Asia Summit (EAS) Senior…

11 hours ago

“Terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you,” says Jaishankar, urges global community to look beyond India-Pakistan lens on Kashmir attack

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his visit to Brussels this week, met European…

12 hours ago

Taiwanese NGOs hold 2030 wargame exercise simulating Chinese naval incursion

Three Taiwanese non-governmental organisations participated in a tabletop exercise on Tuesday that simulated dramatic escalations…

13 hours ago