Maryam launched into politics courtesy JIT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam sounded articulate, aggressive and defiant, throwing down the gauntlet to her opponents and conspirators to stop the PM if they can as he will emerge stronger in the face of any number of plots against him.

The worst opponents were forced to laud her boldness and confidence in their comments on channels and social media. Political rivals were astonished. A PML supporter told a PTI man that political rivals got worried by the confidence shown by Maryam.

A Twitter post noted that the launch pad for Maryam’s political career is another name for the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT). “I think Maryam exceeded all expectations today; spoke like an experienced politician, despite lack of experience & exposure,” an incisive writer said in a Tweet.

A prominent writer and anchor wrote: “Big stage, defiant, articulate woman waving the warning finger. Politics loves the combination. Mariam harnessed JIT to her advantage.”This was Maryam’s maiden, completely political talk that virtually launched her into the political field courtesy the JIT. What she has been earlier delivering to different official functions relating to the education, health and public welfare spheres have been scripted speeches, containing little, direct political content. However, she has been copiously using Twitter to articulate her political views and thoughts.

Although, she has been very active in the affairs of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) behind the scenes, she is yet to formally jump in the political field and is still to contest an election to a public office. But it is beyond doubt that she will be in the electoral field in the 2018 general elections.

Her rare hard-hitting political speech unambiguously reflected yet-to-be-publicly-narrated intrigues against the prime minister being done by his rivals, and ominously urged them not to push him to the wall where he was left with no option but to resort to a tell-all account.

“Fear the day when Nawaz Sharif brings historical events before the people and the secrets he carries, and the conspiracies against him. Don’t push him to the point where he must reveal all this,” Maryam said in a menacing tone.

This was what the prime minister had also precisely said when he had stated after his appearance before the JIT that he has much to say and is postponing it for another day but will definitely talk about it at an appropriate time.

Maryam also repeated the same question put to the JIT that the premier had asked it: what is the crime of the Sharif family for which it is being subjected to the present accountability but it has no answer. Like her father, she also told the JIT that it is the private family business having nothing to do with the public exchequer that is being looked into; and that the team is searching for accusations.

Apart from the government and the ruling party, many believe that the Panama case was aimed at getting rid of Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister and the JIT was poised to achieve this end. Maryam echoed the same theme but warned that notwithstanding the conspiracies, Nawaz Sharif will return stronger than before and will become the premier for the fourth, fifth time. “Stop him if you can. Stop him or power projects will conclude. Stop him or the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be completed. Stop him or he will win the 2018 election,” she challenged.

Another critical point that Maryam touched was that Nawaz Sharif has stood up for civilian supremacy and will continue this trajectory. Indeed, way back in 2014 he fought for supremacy of parliament and the Constitution and is doing the same now once again.

She also made digs on Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan when she stated that the Sharif family has certain options to skip accountability by hiding behind technicalities; by diverting vehicles to hospital by pretending to have back pain; and by taking refuge in the Nathia Gali state guest house. “I am worried for the afterlife of this person [Imran Khan] who has been leveling false accusations.”

Maryam believed that one reason behind summoning her before the JIT was to put pressure on her father, but they were mistaken as she was his strength and not weakness. “He taught me to stand for the truth and not bow my head before cruelty. Those who have no regard for daughters and family values will never understand these things. If you are targeting me because I am Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, I will fight back because I am his daughter.”

She also talked about another scheme and said finally nothing was found against her in the DawnLeaks inquiry. “One person says he will make us weep; but he must note that it is only in the power of the Allah Almighty to make anyone weep or bend.”