Pakistan: Maryam Nawaz becomes first woman Chief Minister of Punjab province

Maryam Nawaz, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and daughter of three-time former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, today became the first woman Chief Minister of Punjab province.

The 50-year-old senior vice president of PML-N, won the chief ministerial elections amidst a walkout by lawmakers of former prime minister Imran Khan's party-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

Maryam Nawaz defeated Rana Aftab of the PTI-backed SIC to win the chief ministerial elections for the politically crucial Punjab province, home to 120 million people.

She also paid a visit to her mother’s grave at Jati Umra before going to the Punjab Assembly, where the election for the post of chief minister took place.

In a post on X, the PML-N said Maryam also visited the graves of her paternal grandparents.

“For the first time in the history of our nation, a woman will become the CM Punjab. Maryam Nawaz Sharif will be the first woman to take the oath as CM Punjab!” the PML-N had said in a post on X before the election.