Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz did it again donned a uniform of the Elite Force while attending a passing-out parade in Lahore on Friday. Not bothered about the harsh criticism she faced last time she wore a uniform, Maryam Nawaz appeared on screens of TV channels on Friday morning wearing the uniform with broad smile on her face. Late last month, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had caused quite a stir when she attended a passing-out ceremony for women constables and traffic assistants decked out in a Punjab police uniform. Addressing the graduating class at Police Training College Chung, the chief minister said “After wearing the police uniform for the first time, I have realized that being a police officer or being sworn in as a CM is a very responsible job. In the chief minister’s office, we take decisions and you get them implemented.” But the chief minister’s decision to attend the ceremony in full police regalia rubbed many the wrong way, especially the opposition PTI.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Yasmin Rashid, Moonis Elahi and Shahbaz Gill all criticised CM Maryam’s decision to don a police uniform. The issue also remained among the top trends on social media, with many users questioning the logic behind the move. A Lahore-based lawyer even went to the trouble of filing a petition before a sessions court, seeking the registration of a case against the Punjab chief minister for ‘impersonating’ a police officer. But in the face of the criticism, both the PML-N and Punjab police defended CM Maryam’s actions. “In the whole world, the head of the states can wear the uniform of their forces to enhance their respect. Nawaz Sharif did the same when he was in power and CM Maryam has followed him,” Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said in a statement then. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the Punjab police shared a copy of the relevant rules that govern how governors and chief ministers can dress on formal occasions.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan