MARYAM TO CONTEST IN GENERAL ELECTION 2018
FOLKS believe there are stunning similarities between Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Sumeyye Erdogan
Speculations are doing the rounds in Islamabad’s power corridors that Mrs Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to start a career in national politics by contesting general election to be held in 2018.
Known as a ‘King Maker’ among prominent leaders of ruling PML-N, Maryam Nawaz Sharif is said to have played great role in securing landmark victory for his father’s PML-N in general elections held in May 2013.
Without taking any public office, she has been working relentlessly to bring reforms in federal education system.
From Prime Minister’s interest free loan scheme, laptop scheme , to upgrading of government schools in federal capital territory, Maryam had assisted her father.
At a time when opposition parties launched well-orchestrated campaigns against against her father and the ruling PML-N, Maryam devised strategies to counter them wisely. It was then she won the hearts of leadership of PML-N including her father.
Some reports suggested that daughter of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will contest from NA-48 Islamabad and not a constituency in Lahore in the next general election. However, one can only expect final decision by the end of this year.
According to media reports, talk about fielding Maryam Nawaz as PML-N candidate on National Assembly seat in the upcoming general election was rife in political circles.
Last month, Maryam Nawaz Sharif made headlines in national and international media when a UK based news organization reve aled that she is among the 100 high profile influential daughters of heads of state and government across the globe. According to a list of the influential daughters, Maryam was originally involved in the family’s charity organisations and played a prominent role in managing her father’s successful re-election campaign in 2013.
She now works for his party, the right-wing Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). “She is always the focus of attention,” says a report published by BBC Urdu.
“She has clearly emerged as someone powerful, if not a designated political heir to her father,” stated the report.
Last year her name appeared in the so-called Panama Papers, suggesting she and two of her brothers had links to undeclared offshore companies and accounts being used to acquire luxury properties in London. Her father dismissed the accusations calling the leaks the work of people “targeting me and my family for their political aims”.
Interestingly, one can find stunning similarities between Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Sumeyye Erdogan, 31,who is the youngest daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sumeyye has been widely seen as his favourite.
A US and British-educated political scientist, she served as advisor to her father when he led the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and has accompanied him on numerous diplomatic trips.
In 2015 there was speculation that Sumeyye might run for a seat in parliament, but in the event she did not. She currently has a lower profile role with a Turkish women’s rights advocacy group.
In addition to her campaigning work Sumeyye continues to be an outspoken supporter of her father and his government.
