It has been a while since Maryam Nawaz appeared in public to deliver any political statement. Her twitter handle is also silent. Under such circumstances, many political analysts are speculating over the possible causes of her silent. While many believe that her silence might be due to a deal with the establishment, others argue about the emotional aspects which have surrounded her due to her father’s deteriorating health.
But it is not the first time that Maryam Nawaz has gone silent. After the demise of her mother, Maryam also went into political hibernation for quite some time. This time, it was expected from her that she might give a public appearance especially in Azadi March, led by JUI-F, however, no such event took place.
Maryam Nawaz’s silence continues to baffle political circles https://t.co/HHrw7IKr8d
— The Express Tribune (@etribune) November 22, 2019
Pro-PMLN segments justify her silence as a sentimental breakdown owing to her father’s health condition. While the opposite faction believes that her silence is due to the deal which she has managed to strike with the establishment. But while analyzing the recent past, her silence, despite the government’s harsh criticism, seems rational.
There may be two possible reasons.
One is the alleged internal division that the party has been facing for quite some time. The sources argue that PML-N is currently divided into two factions – Pro Nawaz and Anti Nawaz. The latter seems to be stubborn in its approach of sidelining Maryam due to her incapacity of leading the senior party leaders. Also, Maryam’s statements in the past had created trouble for the party.
Read more: Maryam Nawaz calls PMLN ‘ineligible’ and ‘incompetent’ on Twitter
One reason might be Maryam’s tweet over the World Bank report which highlighted the negative trend in Pakistan’s economy for the fiscal years of 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. Maryam used this report as the measure to bash against the current PTI government without realizing that in those years, for which the report is presented, her own party was in power. Under such circumstances, the current silence of Maryam Nawaz seems rational in order to avoid any further rift within the party.
The second reason might be the timing. Being aware of her political stature and the heir to her father’s politics, Maryam Nawaz might be conscious of her worth. Since the recent sit-in of JUI-F failed to achieve anything apparent despite the public appearance of other opposition leaders like Bilawal Bhutto and Shahbaz Sharif, if Maryam would make any public appearance, it could cost her credibility.
Maryam Nawaz returns back from accountability court pic.twitter.com/yJWFGZRbv1
— Hafsa Iqbal (@hafsaiqbal996) November 22, 2019
Regardless of ground realities and the harsh times PML-N is facing, it is still a fact that PML-N is the largest opposition party in the Parliament and has stakes in the politics. The absence of Maryam Nawaz from the political proceedings might be a strategy to make the voters realize that their party still has something up in their sleeves.
This strategy is the alternative measure to convey the message to the PML-N support base that the Azadi March of JUI-F was solely a step taken by Maulana Fazlul Rehman and PML-N went there to show its support only.
Thus, the failure of Azadi March would not demotivate the voters and keep them energetic. Hence, when the time would be right, Maryam would make the public appearance to mobilize the voters and show the ground strength PMLN still holds.
Read more: PMLN’s Two Maryams: PTI’s Undercover Agents?
The aforementioned two reasons seem compatible with the silence of Maryam Nawaz. Though the other speculations cannot be disregarded yet these are the motives that are more aligned with the current situation of PMLN. Nonetheless, the coming days would eventually depict the true cause and would determine the direction in which PMLN would move with or without Maryam Nawaz.