Daily Times

The recent appointment of Maryam Nawaz Sharif as Senior Vice President and Chief Organizer of Pakistan Muslim Leagie-Nawaz has only added to her public appeal as she continues to make headlines in the Pakistani political arena. That she has emerged as the most popular leader in her party is now known to all and sundry. For quite some time, Maryam is seen as a key player in mainstream politics.

Realising her worth and what she can do to revolutionise the overall culture, she is now ready to revamp and reshape the party. Maryam already has her fingers on the pulse of the nation. The extraordinary experiences of the years gone by have helped shape a new Maryam: one who is not yet ready to leave the fight. The warrior has repeatedly proved her mettle as a fighter and shown that women have a noteworthy share in the field. She single-handedly revived the politics of resistance as she waged a selfless battle against tyranny. Many now see her as a torchbearer of democracy.

For all the women leaders standing under her flag as well as millions across the country, her biggest contribution towards the party, in this day and age, remains the rekindling of interest in the young and women voters of PML-N. Despite being an active player for decades, the party has started to lag behind in street power. The past few years saw the leadership struggle in maintaining a popular profile among the masses. Here is where our Lioness jumped to the fore and did her magic.

With the induction of Maryam Nawaz Sharif into the top tiers, the PML-N won street power. Her firebrand style of politicking tremendously engaged the youth and the urban class. She is an absolute magnet that pulls crowds every single time. Her commitment to the party and dedication to serving the people of Pakistan are laudable.

Maryam Nawaz’s firebrand style of politicking tremendously engaged the youth and the urban class.

She has given several young women an opportunity to contest general seats on PML-N’s ticket–something that was unheard of before. More powerful is the graceful inspiration she serves for the youth. With her new role in the party, one can expect to see the induction of young blood into the party. Now, women’s empowerment would pave the way for new opportunities for women; powerful social media campaigns would lead to greater connectivity and the party would move forward with a well-entrenched groundwork.

Maryam has surely embarked on her political career with confidence and courage that has encouraged other party members to put in greater efforts for the restoration of popularity among the masses. Under her supervision and political direction, PML-N is once again ready to compete in the upcoming General Elections.

Daughter of a historic revolutionary, Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, who did not hesitate for a second before stepping into uncharted waters in times of need, Maryam’s “never-say-never” attitude and impressive political acumen have forced even her critics to acknowledge her value. It can only be expected that under her leadership, the PML-N would grow by leaps and bounds. Being born into a powerful family, she was generally believed to have lived a sheltered life. However, the horrific and vile forces of gender discrimination spare no one. Enduring through a double whammy–those who attacked her for being a female and those who became her enemy because of her illustrious background–Maryam was determined to defeat them all as she carved a space for herself in this largely misogynistic world. Neither politically-engineered cases nor mainstream conventions could stop her from fighting for what she believed in. Quite remarkably, she started a movement for democracy from the walls of her prison cell. Through this, she earned the respect of supporters across all genders, ages, religions and classes in Pakistan.

Maryam Nawaz is the epitome of courage and selflessness unto herself. Hers is a tale that should inspire all Pakistani females to step into the open, break the shackles of patriarchy and claim what is rightfully theirs. If they remain steadfast in what they believe in and have their eyes set on the goal, no challenges, however strong, can stand in their path.

Maryam has always used her coveted position to defend the rule of law, and supremacy of the constitution and render support for free and fair elections in this country. In a time when some men are busy waging egoistic wars, our warrior is standing tall for the rural dwellers; the religious minorities; for the impoverished classes; for anyone who needs a messiah. Welcome back, Lioness. Let’s get back to rebuilding Pakistan. We have done it before. We will do it again.

The writer is a LUMS graduate and currently serves as PMLN MPA. She is a close aide of Maryam Nawaz and tweets at @hinaparvezbutt