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The prime minister has appointed lawmaker Maryam Aurangzeb as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting.
Aurangzeb was elected on a reserved seat for women in the 2013 general elections. Aurangzeb is said to have worked closely with Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and was a part of Maryam`s team overseeing the education sector. She is also the parliamentary secretary for interior. Her mother, Tahira Aurangzeb, too is an MNA.
Aurangzeb holds an MSc degree in environment and development from Kings College London and a Masters degree in Economics from Pakistan.
The development comes as the premier asked Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed to step down amid a probe into Dawn's story "Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military", which reported details of a high level civil-military meeting discussing the issue of Pakistan's banned outfits.
Read: Pervaiz Rasheed asked to step down amid Dawn story probe
The report of the high-profile security meeting has forced the government to initiate an inquiry to identify the person responsible for its leak.
Sources also said Rasheed's portfolio was taken away after a preliminary inquiry was launched by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. They added that the premier has ordered a formal inquiry as to whether Rasheed was involved in the leak from the meeting.
The Prime Minister's Office had rejected the story, but the military maintained the story had been "leaked" and demanded a probe into the matter as it viewed the leak as a breach of national security.
In an Editor's note, Dawn clarified its position and stated on the record that the story "was verified, cross-checked and fact-checked."
An earlier version of the story reported Maryam Aurangzeb as daughter of Senator Mushahidullah. The error is regretted.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (76) Closed
Oct 31, 2016 04:57pm
Best Wishes to Mariam Aurangzeb , we met once in Islamabad, May God bless you. cheers
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Oct 31, 2016 04:57pm
Maryam who?
Are we living in monarchy that the relatives and friends of the ruling party are involved in running the country's affairs?
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Oct 31, 2016 04:58pm
Very good decision by MNS; she will be an iconic replacement of PR. Wish her & Pakistan best of luck. Well versed with all political as well as party's organisational set up.
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Oct 31, 2016 04:59pm
not for very long .........
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Oct 31, 2016 04:59pm
"Aurangzeb is said to be close to Maryam Nawaz".
I rest my case.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:00pm
Why do we need an 'information minister' - for propaganda? Its a malaise in subcontinent only; not in other countries! If all ministries have spokespersons then why this? We are still in the time wrap of Raj days!
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Oct 31, 2016 05:02pm
"Aurangzeb is said to be close to Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif"...
Yet another example of Nepotism. They are not going to answer Panama.
Imran Khan's blunders look so petty against these sharif/zardari/bhutto family plundering this country for decades. Time to go for all out support for Imran Khan and PTI to get rid of this culture.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:04pm
She go this min. on merit? If not more fire power for PTI..
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Oct 31, 2016 05:07pm
Govt brain seems to stuck in 1970s and unable to adopt to modern way of thinking.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:10pm
Good to see women empowerment whether its UN or in Pakistan. Positive development.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:13pm
@Mian Nazir : "Well versed with all political as well as party's organisational set up."
Above all she has strong ties with the Mayryam Nawaz and that's the difference between her and the rest.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:20pm
She is well informed law maker. Good addition to information ministry.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:22pm
Her credentials are really good. She will make a good Information Minister. I think she is fully capable.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:26pm
Nothing will change in Pakistan, until the entire system is changed
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Oct 31, 2016 05:27pm
Does PMLN have any sane minister?
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Oct 31, 2016 05:30pm
What else can he do?
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Oct 31, 2016 05:32pm
Her mother is also an MNA. Their services should also be utilized for betterment of democracy
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Oct 31, 2016 05:32pm
This is a family Business. No body's allowed to talk
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Oct 31, 2016 05:36pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad - 'not a lot'!
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Oct 31, 2016 05:41pm
You know what to expect, if someone is closely associated with ruling family.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:42pm
Low profile candidate.I guess a better decision.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:43pm
Best of luck.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:47pm
Nepotism continues and will continue as long as merit is not considered in appointments. It is hallmark of PMLN government. Pakistan can never progress in this environment
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Oct 31, 2016 05:47pm
@naeem What kind of services do they all provide?Please enlighten me.
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Oct 31, 2016 05:49pm
How do you get elected on a reserve seat?
Keeping it all in the family!
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Oct 31, 2016 06:05pm
@Harmony-1© Quite right.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:05pm
@umer
This culture of nepotism/corruption is so deeply rooted in this country, imran cannot get rid of it on his own. The most you could expect from him is about 5% improvement. It will take generations or some ultras calendar mega disaster in Pakistan to change the present course of this country.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:07pm
Dad is Senator, Mom is MNA. Now she is an important minister. Our next generation of lords is getting ready to take over.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:07pm
So everything remains in the family !! Is she even qualified for this position ? What experience does she have ? This is the very reason why everything is going down the sewage because Nawaz or any other political party in Pakistan thinks that while in government they have every right to do what ever they want and can appoint any human. This is the leading cause for CORRUPTION and I think Imran Khan is rightfully creating havoc. This is not a democracy but a kingdom
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Oct 31, 2016 06:13pm
Her father is a Senator, her mom is an MNA and PMLN gave her ticket to the house on reserved seat to become MNA as well. And now she is even awarded a ministry. Bravo Nawaz Sharif , you have dictatorship written all over your actions, worse than Musharraf !!!
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Oct 31, 2016 06:17pm
Father is an influential Senator, mother is an MNA, she herself was elected as an MNA on the reserved seat for women (no surprise here) and is close to Mariam Nawaz. I don't question her credentials but it does not smell right. Favoritism and nepotism at its best. What else is new?
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Oct 31, 2016 06:18pm
What is the relation between environment science, economics and mass media? If media is a fourth pillar in a state then it should be handed over to a qualified person. Being a closer to family and a daughter of two serving lawmakers is not a quality of qualification.
Please put our country on right track by using experts from lower middle class personality. Which may be on merit more suitable and effective.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:23pm
@aslam shaikh1
And pity is that ordinary Pakistanis cannot do anything about it. It is the interbred system in Pakistan that stops even small positive steps. I can tell you the names of many unqualified doctors who are running their own private clinics but it is I who would be asked to provide proof against them when it is so easy for the relevant dept to verify their medical degrees.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:24pm
Once again for Nawaz Sharif government is "all in the family business". He will never learn from his mistakes and is becoming worse. It is all looking like a kingdom under his rule and not democracy.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:28pm
Is this some sort of joke? Father is senator, wife and MNA and now daughter who is also an MNA, will take over as an minister? Is this democracy or some sort of family limited company.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:39pm
Aurangzeb holds an MSc degree in environment and development from Kings College London and a Masters degree in Economics from Pakistan.
Why people are negative at first place she is female a good stop to woman empowerment in a country with all male dominant setups and society secondly she is educated for all my negative friends to be minster you should be elected or selected member of house. PM has right to chose as per law of land which if you do not like then go to Parliament and change it but if you still can find negative in it then I can only pray for change of your attitude towards country
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Oct 31, 2016 06:39pm
How i wish if our government is in information Folks...We aren't in an information age, we are in an entertainment age.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:40pm
Dynasty rule being propogated.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:41pm
@Waseem Sarwar IT is democracy if you know the definition of democracy it says will of people which is exercised by voted to be sibling of an electable family is neither crime nor restriction to take part in any election and lastly she is selected on reserve seats not elected. If you think this law is not correct do legislation and change it but please do not do criticism for the sake of criticism.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:43pm
@Zubair Plz just come out of the this " Monarchy" dillusion.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:45pm
well educated women.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:48pm
So hand picked candidate again?
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Oct 31, 2016 06:49pm
@Mian Nazir it's always have been PR first and Pakistan later. Glad you put it that way coz I truth can not hide.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:53pm
@Rehan PML didn't even get some common civilian elected for reserved seat. Shows how narrow minded they are. But hey people deserve this. They voted for Mian jee now deal with it.
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Oct 31, 2016 06:54pm
What qualifications does she have??? Friend of the family...we deserve corrupt lawless leaders!
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Oct 31, 2016 06:56pm
@Faisal , from all the good citizens Sharif chooses an Aurangzeb?
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Oct 31, 2016 06:55pm
@Sara
I agree with you Sara about her credential. The Most important is " very close to Maryam Nawaz"
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Oct 31, 2016 07:00pm
How is it possible is there any change after she gets in ministry ,
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Oct 31, 2016 07:03pm
@umer totally agree with you. sick and tired of these these people that have only self interest and not National interest. Fundamental change in political culture required in Pakistan.
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Oct 31, 2016 07:06pm
This is typical of what PMLN is good at. Jobs for friends and family. Let us see how long this nepotism will allow them to rule. As every Pakistani is saying nowadays, the cronies of Nawaz Sharif will bring his government down.
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Oct 31, 2016 07:13pm
@Nomi Goraya Her ONLY qualification is that she is close to the Prime Minister (through Maryam Nawaz). There are so many people who send their children to study abroad and still can't find jobs on their return to Pakistan. Unfortunately, PMLN has never set an example of promoting MERIT. Nepotism is the name of the game for PMLN.
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Oct 31, 2016 07:14pm
@Dori Hope you are proven right!!!!
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Oct 31, 2016 07:18pm
Sickening appointment.
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Oct 31, 2016 07:26pm
What is her qualifications for the job? Just favoritism or she deserves it
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Oct 31, 2016 07:27pm
Surely someone with more experience, other than knowing Maryam Nawaz, could have been found.
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Oct 31, 2016 07:34pm
This govt is busy pocketing few billions before 2018! NS govt is of family,for family!
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Oct 31, 2016 07:44pm
uphill task .... wishing you best of luck
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Oct 31, 2016 07:57pm
According to her education she could be a minister for finance or enviroment.How is her eduction fit for this position?
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Oct 31, 2016 08:12pm
@ADIL JADOON She has an Economics Degree from Pakistan and an M.SC Degree from Kings College London. PML-N is an educated party
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Oct 31, 2016 08:16pm
@umer .She could be better than Pervaiz Rasheed,but problem at the moment is not an appointment of "Minister for information"the issue is "PANAMA LEAKS"people on streets need answer,about it. And people are not prepared to forget or forgive any Panama leaks, but for future they wish to have no corruption, no money laundering ,no kickbacks,no commission,no loans,anymore to our lovely motherland.We can do much better without loans,we can stand on our feet,just had to plug holes of corruption,nepotism,favoritism.
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Oct 31, 2016 08:20pm
Democracy brought Pakistan, Prime minister and , but did not bring Foreign Minister. I wonder why?
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Oct 31, 2016 08:31pm
This position of Information Minister is ice breaker position. This minister could drag Pakistab into Stone Age or can put Pakisran in Space Age, Information Age, Cyber Age. A big task. Please do not block YouTube or block freedom of speech, but do block hate base information and anything that spread extremism and hate. Good luck.
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Oct 31, 2016 08:34pm
As long as someone is friend with NS family then who cares about merit, experience and credential?
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Oct 31, 2016 08:35pm
@MUHAMMAD ARIF By now you should realize a Foreign Minister is not as important as having a Domestic Minister in Pakistan. We should first take care of our house in order before minding other's business
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Oct 31, 2016 08:52pm
@Casper.
People need answers for "Panama Gate". Good. Parliament & Courts are first best course of action for a civilized society. Despite the fact IK-&-PTI have not attended legally required parliamentary sessions, however, they continue to receive salaries & perks without performing public service duties. But its monetary value is estimated to be about $6-milluon to $25-million. For political gamesmanship, are the mercenary chaos & anarchy solutions of PTI-IK worth $-billions in harm & losses to the national socio-economic infrastructures?
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Oct 31, 2016 09:39pm
Did you told her that as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, her job is NOT to share and broadcast any information?
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Oct 31, 2016 10:19pm
Don't know much about her but at least she is educated not like all other ministers and pm hope she do well.
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Oct 31, 2016 11:05pm
Auranzeb, huh
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Oct 31, 2016 11:14pm
Her father provided some strange information about stopping illicit drugs from going to bani gala. What more strange information she will provide?
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Oct 31, 2016 11:49pm
It will never stop, incompetent people will always get high positions
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Oct 31, 2016 11:53pm
PMLN people all look wierd and funny. Btw whats her credentials for the promotion? What past experience does she bring within this field that she has now been posted to?
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Oct 31, 2016 11:58pm
All the best. Look like she is young & energetic well qualified. Lets hope she work and contribute to the country. Blessing from Maryam to Maryam. Nawaz Nawazesh Nawaza people around him. She were lingering around with Nawaz dynasty.
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Nov 01, 2016 12:21am
In the entire PML n she is the most suitable person for appointment as Infkrmation minister. Those who hv heard her, will surely agree to me.
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Nov 01, 2016 01:08am
Every one belongs to same Family.
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Nov 01, 2016 02:34am
To join such an infamous lot, well wish you good luck - will need vast supplies of it... and of course being a sycophant first and foremost.....
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Nov 01, 2016 03:56am
@pak47 People supporting PTI's cause are also graduates of Kings College and other UK universities, G8 Australia , German and American universities etc. So please don't underestimate us when we ask these corrupt people to present themselves for accountability. Plus appointments should be on merit not based on friendship with PM's daughter.
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