Maryam Nawaz, the senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, has been elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab, making her the first woman to hold this position in Pakistan’s history. During the chief ministerial elections, Maryam Nawaz secured 220 votes, triumphing over her opponent, Rana Aftab of the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who received zero votes as his party boycotted the election, news agency PTI reported. The newly-elected Speaker, Malik Ahmad Khan, announced the results during the session, confirming Maryam’s victory.
Expressing her gratitude in her maiden speech at the provincial legislature, Maryam Nawaz thanked her supporters and highlighted the significance of her achievement for women in Pakistan. “Today, every woman of the province is proud to see a woman chief minister,” she remarked, emphasising the importance of female leadership in shaping the nation’s future, as quoted by news agency PTI’s report.
Maryam Nawaz also addressed the challenges she faced, including imprisonment, and expressed her commitment to serving the people without seeking revenge against her opponents. As per the report, she acknowledged the support of her father, Nawaz Sharif, and uncle Shehbaz Sharif, stating, “My father trained me how to run the office.”
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Opposition’s Walkout, PTI’s Response
The chief ministerial election witnessed a walkout by lawmakers from the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), protesting the proceedings after their nominee was not permitted to speak. Maryam Nawaz expressed disappointment at their absence, urging their participation in the democratic process.
Meanwhile, the PTI nominee, Aftab, criticised the proceedings, stating, “It seems as if dictatorship persists even today,” expressing discontent with the electoral process, the report mentioned.
As Maryam Nawaz assumes office, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah highlighted the need to address political instability, expressing confidence in Maryam’s ability to carry forward her family’s political legacy.