In glad tidings for the Sharif family, Junaid Safdar’s nikkah ceremony in London is set for August 22nd. Junaid Safdar, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s son, will marry the daughter of Saif-ur-Rehman, former Ehtesab Bureau head.
Maryam Nawaz herself announced the news of her son’s wedding ceremony on Twitter. She posted an image of the invitation card for the ceremony. She also revealed that she will not be able to attend the ceremony.
“My son, Junaid’s nikkah with Ayesha Saif-ur-Rehman will take place in London on 22nd August Inshallah. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the ceremony owing to blatant victimization and bogus cases and my name on ECL,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted.
Read more: Options for Maryam Nawaz after government’s refusal to remove her name from ECL
In a second tweet, Maryam Nawaz lamented how she will not be able to take part in her son’s happiness. She also recalled how she was in jail when her mother Kalsoom Nawaz passed away due to cancer.
However, Maryam Nawaz also asserted that she will “NOT” ask the government to take her name off the Exit Control List (ECL).
“I was in jail when my beloved mother passed away and now I won’t be able to share my son’s happiness, but, I will NOT make any request to this government for travel abroad. I leave the matter to Almighty Allah,” she tweeted.
I was in jail when my beloved mother passed away and now I won’t be able to share my son’s happiness, but, I will NOT make any request to this government for travel abroad. I leave the matter to Almighty Allah. https://t.co/hNXBSpa7yB
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) August 11, 2021
Twitteratis responded to Maryam Nawaz’s predicament by telling her to hold her son’s nikkah ceremony in Pakistan. Some called her out for manipulating the population to gain their sympathies. According to Twitteratis, Maryam Nawaz’s son Junaid Safdar is not on trial. He is free to travel, hence he can easily hold his nikkah in Pakistan, as the girl too, is from Pakistan.
exactly my first thought, I mean she's under trial not her son, Looks like a usual sharif family drama to garner sympathies, pathetic
— gypsy (@maroonedsoul77) August 11, 2021
Why did government place Maryam Nawaz on ECL?
Following the Avenfield Reference verdict announcement, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested Interior Ministry to include Nawaz and Maryam’s names on ECL.
In 2018, NAB ousted Nawaz Sharif for owning properties beyond known income and 1 year for not cooperating with NAB. As per the sentence, Nawaz Sharif will serve 10 years in jail.
Maryam Nawaz on the other hand was given 7 years for abetment after she was found “instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father” and 1 year for non-cooperation with the bureau.
According to the Avenfield Reference verdict, she “aided, assisted, abetted, attempted and acted in conspiracy with her father.”
Read more: Will Maryam Nawaz appear before the NAB?
Therefore, the government placed their names on the ECL. However, Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan for London on the basis of health issues. Maryam Nawaz also told a court in a petition she wanted to reach London to take care of her ailing father. However, the court barred her from traveling.
Furthermore, this year Prime Minister Imran Khan refused to remove PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz’s name from the ECL.
Junaid Safdar following Maryam Nawaz into politics
Senior journalist Haroon Rashid recently revealed that Maryam Nawaz’s son, Junaid Safdar, will run the next elections from Rahim Yar Khan. PML-N is yet to confirm the news.
Haroon Rashid revealed the news during an interview. He also talked about why Rahim Yar Khan was chosen despite PML-N having a low number of votes in the “Siraiki Belt.”
According to Haroon Rashid, Chaudhry Munir is the reason for this. Due to Chaudhry Munir’s stronghold in Rahim Yar Khan and close ties with the Nawaz family, he will assist Junaid Safdar in campaigning for Rahim Yar Khan.
He decided to enter politics in 2018 as the third generation of the Sharif family to choose a political career.
Read more: Why is Maryam Nawaz’s son running elections from Rahim Yar Khan?