From Taj Mahal to Maryam Nawaz

Maryam Nawaz’s luxury lifestyle, from designer bags to lavish fashion, sparks debate in Pakistan. Critics question whether her image aligns with leadership, poverty concerns, and the struggles of ordinary citizens.

By Rauf Klasra

At a press conference today, Azma Bukhari defended Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, insisting she has every right to buy designer clothes, shoes, and handbags from her own wealth. “It’s her money, not the public’s,” Bukhari argued.

That reasoning may stand if Maryam were simply the daughter of a wealthy businessman living as a private citizen. But once someone enters politics, sits in public office, and claims to speak for the poor, the rules change. In that position, flaunting wealth is not just tone-deaf—it alienates the very people you vow to represent.

In a province where millions of children are out of school and families struggle to survive, the sight of a leader parading luxury brands sends the wrong message. It reinforces the perception that politicians are out of touch with ordinary Pakistanis. Leadership requires empathy, and empathy often demands sacrifice.

History is replete with examples. Motilal Nehru, father of India’s first prime minister, was one of the richest men in colonial India. Known as a high-priced lawyer, even his clothes were sent to London for dry cleaning. Yet when he joined Gandhi in the struggle for independence, he set aside his aristocratic lifestyle. He adopted the same khadi and simple shoes that Gandhi promoted—not because he lacked means, but because he refused to mock the masses whose cause he had taken up.

His son, Jawaharlal Nehru, educated abroad and heir to vast wealth, followed suit. Despite being the only son of a billionaire, he embraced socialism and lived in solidarity with ordinary Indians. The symbolism mattered: when leaders appeared like the people they led, their words carried weight. The Nehrus gave up comfort not out of compulsion but conviction, proving leadership is about service, not self-indulgence.

Maryam Nawaz and others who aspire to rule must understand this. Politics is not just about policy; it is also about perception. Leaders are judged not only by what they say but by how they live. A simple gesture of restraint—choosing modesty over ostentation—can send a powerful message of empathy.

If one wishes to spend personal wealth freely, that is a right. But then the pursuit of power should be reconsidered. Leadership is a public trust. When leaders flaunt wealth while ordinary citizens languish, it feels like mockery.

As poet Sahir Ludhianvi once wrote:

“A king flaunted his riches,
And mocked the love of the poor.”

Maryam Nawaz must decide: Will she continue to dazzle with luxury, or will she follow the timeless lesson of history—that true leaders walk with the people, not above them?

Disclaimer: This article was originally published on the official Facebook page of Rauf Klasra. It is being republished here for our readers with due credit to the author.