Lahore: Maryam Nawaz, the political heir-apparent of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has begun campaigning for the Lahore National Assembly by-election on behalf of her ailing mother.
Kulsoom Nawaz, Sharif’s wife, who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer in London, will run for election in the September 17 by-election despite her condition.
Maryam, 43, is likely to play a key role in campaigning for the election for the NA-120 seat, which fell vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified Sharif on July 28 over the Panama Papers case.
Sharif reportedly pitched his wife, thus making it possible to stage a come-back to the prime minister’s house — albeit as ‘first gentleman’.
Maryam has held meetings with the PML-N workers in the constituency and directed them to campaign aggressively for her mother. She also directed party workers to do door-to-door campaigns and to listen to the people’s problems.
Maryam added that she would also visit the constituency on a regular basis.
“My father is innocent. Nawaz Sharif is betrayed by whom he gave love. Those conspiring against him will be exposed soon,” she said, before asking the workers to pray for her mother’s return to health.
Maryam has replaced her cousin Hamza Shahbaz, who until now was running Kulsoom’s campaign, placing the campaign in the hands of some one Nawaz Sharif trusts — his daughter more than his nephew.
Media reports had earlier stated that Sharif had “smartly” denied his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab, the chance to become premier despite nominating him as his successor.
Sharif is set to leave for London, where his wife is being treated. He has reportedly booked tickets for tonight and August 28.
“We have asked Nawaz Sharif to go to London to see Begum Kulsoom in London,” Railways Minister Khawaja Sa’ad Rafique told reporters.
He, however, denied that Sharif would leave the country under some deal.
“These are rumours as Nawaz Sharif will only go to London to see his wife,” he said.
Sharif’s political secretary Senator Dr Asif Karmani said earlier this week that Kulsoom may not be able to participate in the election campaign because of the cancer treatment she is undergoing. He, however, added that she would contest the election for sure and win it.
The former first lady, in her mid-60s, is being tipped to become the next prime minister, replacing Shahid Khakan Abbasi after winning September 17 by-poll.
