Pakistani ex-P.M.’s daughter takes over top provincial post, amid boycott [Video]

Lahore, Pakistan –

The eldest daughter and close aide of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday became the country’s first-ever female chief minister in eastern Punjab province. Her rivals accused authorities of nepotism and boycotted the session of the provincial assembly.

Mariam Nawaz, 50, became chief minister in a 220-0 vote in her favor, beating out her rival Rana Aftab, nominated by the Sunni Ittehad Council and an ally of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Opposition lawmakers supporting Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022, boycotted the 371-member Punjab Assembly session Monday.

Nawaz was later sworn in at the provincial governor’s sprawling office in the eastern city of Lahore, her father seen next to her along with other family members during the televised ceremony.

Aftab said Nawaz’s election was premature as some seats in the assembly reserved for women and minorities have yet be announced. …