New Delhi: Pakistani politician Maryam Nawaz cannot seem to get her PR act right. The Punjab chief minister’s recent donning of police uniform for the passing out ceremony of constables has landed her in a soup. She now has a legal case against her and the internet has not been kind either.
Her fashion sense is now being dubbed as “grubby vulgarity” with a vibe like that of actor Sacha Baron Cohen in the 2012 film The Dictator. Unlike Cohen, though, Nawaz’s costume was not in jest — she took her role as the chief guest seriously enough to actually dress up as a policewoman.
While Pakistanis on social media were busy comparing her to Cohen and even Bollywood actor Sridevi, a Lahore-based lawyer took Nawaz’s sartorial choice very seriously.
A former Supreme Court advocate, Aftab Ahmad Bajwa went ahead and sought a court order for the registration of an FIR against Nawaz for wearing the uniform. Another citizen, Waqar Ali, also filed a petition against the Punjab CM in a Lahore court.
A sessions court in Lahore has now sought a reply from the Punjab Police following Bajwa’s petition.
To Maryam’s defence
Amid this controversy, both the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Punjab Police were quick to come to her defence.
The police cited the ‘Punjab Police Dress Regulations’, which allow the CM to don the uniform on formal occasions, Express Tribune reported. It also put out a statement saying it appreciated Nawaz’s move and that it had received many messages applauding her act.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, the PML(N) pointed out how the CM had merely followed in the footsteps of her father, former PM Nawaz Sharif.
“Following in her father’s footsteps, CM Maryam Nawaz exemplifies support for Punjab police, including the women officers, by donning the police uniform,” PML(N) said.
Thereafter, in a series of tweets, the party pointed out how by wearing the uniform, Nawaz “brings new hope and strength to Punjab Police”.
Internet couldn’t take it
If that was not enough, the party also hit out against individuals criticising her.
Sharing an X user’s comment, who had shared a picture of Maryam Nawaz wearing the uniform with the caption “Jokes write themselves”, PML(N) hit back with a video of the Punjab CM interacting with the graduating female constables and wrote: “This video is a tight slap on your face! Look at the love, admiration, respect and honor CM Maryam Nawaz is getting from Lady officers! This public love is something you would never get!”
It did not go down well with social media users, who aren’t pleased with Maryam Nawaz donning the uniform.
“Wearing the uniform of a civilian leader and taking protocol reflects authoritarian thinking. Nawaz Sharif was fond of taking protocols by wearing the uniform of an army general. In the picture below, Nawaz Sharif’s teacher General Jilani said that you cannot wear a general’s uniform, wear a police uniform. And today Maryam Nawaz is also following in the footsteps of her father’s dictatorial thinking,” a user wrote. Another called it a “fancy dress show”.
One X user was particularly scathing and wrote: “Whatever you make a donkey wear, it remains a donkey, same goes for a thief. We should rather call her ‘Maryam Chorni aka General Rani’.”
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)