Maryam begins campaign for Lahore by-poll on behalf of mother

Maryam Nawaz, the political heir apparent of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has begun campaigning for the Lahore National Assembly seat by-poll which is being contested by her ailing mother. Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz, who is under treatment for throat cancer in London, will contest the September 17 election for the National Assembly seat despite her ailment. Maryam, 43, is likely to play a key role in campaigning for the election for the NA-120 seat which felt vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified Sharif on July 28 in the Panama Papers case. Maryam left from Jati Umra, the residence of the Sharif family, in a rally-like procession, the Nation reported. A large number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters accompanied Maryam. After reaching Model Town, the PML-N local leadership held a meeting regarding the by-elections. Senior leaders Pervez Malik, Pervaiz Rasheed and the Lahore mayor were present at the meeting

During the meeting, Maryam stated that the by-poll is a must win for the party. "Victory in NA-120 will be victory of every worker of PML-N," she said. Sharif's political secretary Senator Dr Asif Karmani said earlier this week that Kulsoom may not be able to participate in election campaign because of her cancer treatment but she would contest the election for sure and win it. The former first lady, in her mid-60s, is being tipped as next prime minister replacing Shahid Khakan Abbasi after winning September 17 by-poll.