Who Is Maryam Nawaz Sharif? Pakistani Opp Leader Hits Out At PM Imran Khan

Pakistan’s Opposition leader Maryam Safdar alias Maryam Nawaz Sharif on April 9 lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan saying he should move to India after he praised the country. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam's comment came after Imran Khan called India a “nation with a great sense of honour” in his address to Pakistan on Friday night, ahead of the no-trust motion passed against him.

“No superpower can force India to do anything against its interests. They (India) are buying oil from Russia despite sanctions,” Khan said adding that no one can dictate to India.

Daughter of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam hit back saying that Khan has “gone mad”. She added, “Someone should tell a person who has gone mad after seeing this power gone that he has been expelled by his own party and no one else. If you like India so much then shift there and leave the life of Pakistan.”Maryam

Who Is Maryam Nawaz Sharif?

Born to deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Kalsoom Butt, Maryam is a Pakistani second-generation politician who entered politics in 2012 and since then has been part of her father Nawaz Sharif’s campaigns.

Maryam had to drop out of King Edward Medical College in the late 1980s over allegations of her admission being illegal. Reportedly, she completed her studies at the University of Punjab where is believed to have also completed her Master’s in Literature and PhD in Political Science.

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Maryam’s PhD in Political Science was also challenged in the court and while filing election affidavits, she claimed she had a Master’s.

Maryam got married to Safdar Awan when she was 19 and later adopted the name, Mariam Safdar. Her husband was Nawaz Sharif’s security officer during his term as Prime Minister.

Prior to entering politics, she was involved in the Sharif family’s philanthropic organisation. She joined politics in 2012 and initially gave speeches about women’s rights and education at institutes. According to reports, the heir apparent of Sharif has appointed an important role in the election campaign of her father during the 2013 Pakistan General Election.

In 2013, her appointment as chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Youth programme was questioned in Lahore High Court. She was also accused of misusing government funds for personal work. Amid the allegations, Maryam chose to resign.

She joined active politics in 2017 and helped her family in polls, etc. She was given a ticket to contest the 2018 general election; however, she was sentenced to seven years in jail on corruption charges.