Marium Nawaz’s Limited Meetings with MPs and MNA: Concerns Over Access and Development Work

Islamabad:It has been over eight months since Marium Nawaz assumed office as the Chief Minister of Punjab. During this time, she has been seen conducting cabinet meetings, interacting with foreign diplomats, and holding discussions with key officers, including the Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Punjab. However, what has raised concerns is her apparent lack of direct interaction with Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) and Members of the National Assembly (MNAs).

According to sources within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), whenever MPs or MNAs seek a meeting with the Chief Minister, they are redirected to her special assistants or senior ministers such as Zeeshan Malik, Rashid Nasrullah, or Marium Aurangzeb. Access to the Chief Minister herself remains limited. A Member of the Provincial Assembly from Khushab, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared that it has been over six months since they requested a meeting with Marium Nawaz to discuss matters related to their constituency, but instead of meeting the Chief Minister, they were sent back after a meeting with her assistant.

The MPA explained, “We wanted to discuss developmental projects, not issues related to transfers or postings. It’s disheartening that we are not being given direct access to the Chief Minister.” The lawmaker also pointed out that women MPs seem to have easier access to Marium Nawaz compared to their male counterparts. “It seems that the Chief Minister prefers to meet with female members of the assembly,” the MPA added, urging the Chief Minister to treat all members equally regardless of gender.

On the other hand, Marium Nawaz has repeatedly stated that she will not make transfers or postings at the request of any individual. She has emphasized that only those who qualify based on merit will be appointed to positions. Sources close to the Chief Minister suggest that one reason for her reluctance to meet MPs and MNAs is that most of the requests she receives are related to transfers and postings. As a result, she prefers to avoid such meetings, focusing instead on more pressing matters.

Regarding the developmental work in the province, sources reveal that progress is being made on schemes that were proposed by the assembly members. Coordination committees have been established in every district of Punjab to address issues in each constituency. If any assembly members feel that their projects are not being handled on merit, they are encouraged to bring it to the Chief Minister’s attention, and their concerns will be heard.

Marium Nawaz is actively working on the development of Punjab, and where necessary, she is willing to hold meetings to ensure the province’s progress. However, her office maintains that all interactions are being managed through official channels, with a focus on merit-based development projects.