Uncle Shahbaz my hero, most competent in family: Maryam Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz has rejected a statement attributed to her in a recent interview that it was her family’s decision that she took control of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).In a Twitter post, she said Nawaz Sharif would lead the party and she was not even an aspirant and would remain a party worker. Earlier, a foreign media report stated that the 44-year-old defacto political heir to the Sharif family had made the statement it was her family’s decision that she takes charge of the
party. In the same vein, the publication said that Maryam did not elaborate whether she aspires to be a prime minister in future. She also quashed news of internal strife within the family and the party. Despite the news of differences between her and uncle Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his children, she was full of praises for them.

“He’s the most competent person. He’s my hero. I love him to death,” she was quoted as saying by the foreign publication. Maryam said that she never saw herself in a political role, adding that her upbringing had been relatively traditional. She said that she feels lucky that she married young and all her children are grown-up now. She added that she would not have been able to allocate time to politics had her children been younger.

According to Maryam, it was her grandfather Muhammad Sharif, who spotted her administrative and political abilities and gave her freedom to partake in important family operations. Maryam said after some time her father also saw her administrative potential, which eventually made her one of the top advisers of the former premier.

On the subject of persisting trials and tribulations of her family, Maryam said the cases are politically motivated. She was optimistic that the party support isn’t waning and supporters remain determined.

Meanwhile, wishes poured in on social media for her as she celebrated her 44th birthday on Saturday. Maryam took to the microblogging website to share the happy occasion and thanked supporters as well-wishers rallied on Twitter. "My sincere THANK YOU for your beautiful and heart-touching wishes and prayers on my birthday. Your affection means a lot to me. God bless." PML- leaders including Hina Butt also felicitated her.