Awaam Pakistan

On 3 January 2023, Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, was appointed as senior vice president of the PML-N, making her one of the PML-N's senior-most leaders.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Maryam Nawaz appointed PML-N senior vice president |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2393977/maryam-nawaz-appointed-pml-n-senior-vice-president |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} Numerous senior leaders within PML-N expressed regret and displeasure over the lack of consultation preceding Maryam's appointment, which positioned her as the second most senior figure in the party, following her leaving uncle Shehbaz Sharif.{{cite news |title=PML-N Workers Swarm Airport As Maryam Nawaz Lands In Lahore |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/28-Jan-2023/pml-n-workers-swarm-airport-as-maryam-nawaz-lands-in-lahore |access-date=14 March 2024 |work=The Friday Times |date=28 January 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Maryam Nawaz New Role In PMLN Irks Top Party Cadre |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/07-Jan-2023/maryam-nawaz-new-role-in-pmln-irks-top-party-cadre |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=The Friday Times |date=7 January 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Maryam's elevation furthers Sharif political dynasty |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1028027-maryam-s-elevation-furthers-sharif-political-dynasty |access-date=2 March 2024 |work=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}} Within an hour of the announcement of Maryam's promotion, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Prime Minister and a leader of PML-N, resigned as senior vice president of PML-N,{{cite news |title=Khaqan quits as PMLN senior vice president |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1036315-khaqan-quits-as-pmln-senior-vice-president |access-date=4 March 2024 |work=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Can CM Maryam Nawaz finally evolve from 'Nawaz ki beti' to 'Qoum ki beti'? |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1817259/can-cm-maryam-nawaz-finally-evolve-from-nawaz-ki-beti-to-qoum-ki-beti |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=dawn.com |date=26 February 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=PMLN's Abbasi confirms he resigned from party post, says chief organiser Maryam should get 'open field' |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1734750 |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=Dawn |date=1 February 2013}} saying "Maryam needs space, if we are there, there will be disagreement, which is not suitable for anyone."{{cite news |title=PML-N Not My Property: Maryam Reassures Abbasi In Model Town Meeting |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/17-Feb-2023/pml-n-not-my-property-maryam-reassures-abbasi-in-model-town-meeting |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=The Friday Times |date=17 February 2023 |language=en}} He later quit PML-N in December 2023.{{cite news |last1=Butt |first1=Naeem Ashraf |title=Shahid Khaqan Abbasi decides to 'quit' PML-N |url=https://arynews.tv/shahid-khaqan-abbasi-decides-to-quit-pml-n/ |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=ARY News |date=16 December 2023}}{{cite news | title=Shahid Abbasi decides to 'quit' PML-N |url=https://pakobserver.net/shahid-abbasi-decides-to-quit-pml-n/ |access-date=13 March 2024 |work=Pakistan Observer |date=17 December 2023}} In an interview, Abbasi said his "stature in the PML-N is equal to that of Shehbaz Sharif and working under Maryam is not acceptable to him at all. He takes it as his insult."{{cite news |title=If Maryam Nawaz Is Not Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's Leader, Who Is? |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/12-Feb-2023/if-maryam-nawaz-is-not-shahid-khaqan-abbasi-s-leader-who-is-news-analysis |access-date=14 March 2024 |work=The Friday Times |date=12 February 2023 |language=en}} Another leader of PML-N, Miftah Ismail, also announced he would quit PML-N following his removal from his position as Federal Minister of Finance by Maryam.{{cite news |title=Former finance minister Miftah quits PMLN |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40249655 |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=brecorder |date=25 June 2023}}

The party was founded in June 2024 by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Miftah Ismail, the former Minister of Finance. Prior to forming AP, Abbasi was a senior leader of the PML-N. He had left his former party on 16 December 2023, later citing his endorsement of the ووٹ کو عزت دو ({{Literal translation|Honour the vote}}) narrative, which he claimed the PML-N had abandoned after Nawaz Sharif had returned from self-imposed exile. Ismail had left the PML-N on 25 June 2023, saying he was "not interested in active politics anymore".{{Cite web |last=Butt |first=Naeem Ashraf |date=16 December 2023 |title=Shahid Khaqan Abbasi decides to 'quit' PMLN |url=https://arynews.tv/shahid-khaqan-abbasi-decides-to-quit-pml-n/ |access-date=16 December 2023 |website=ARY News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ayub |first=Imran |date=2023-06-25 |title=Disillusioned with politics, Miftah resigns from party position |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1761628 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=dawn.com |language=en}}

Later developments towards the creation of a new political party came in the form of the "Reimagining Pakistan" seminars, organized by Miftah Ismail and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in various cities across Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Abbasi |first=Ansar |date=2023-07-27|title=Miftah confirms 'Reimagining Pakistan' trio testing waters for launch of party |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1113731-miftah-confirms-reimagining-pakistan-trio-testing-waters-for-launch-of-party |access-date=2024-07-07|website=The News International|language=en}} The seminars also included figures like Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, previously associated with the Pakistan People's Party; he did not, however, join Awaam Pakistan, owing to disagreements concerning the party's launch date and its conflict with the Islamabad High Court's ruling concerning the results of Khokhar's electoral constituency in NA-47.{{Cite web |last=Rehman |first=Atika |date=2024-06-21|title=Miftah Ismail, Khaqan Abbasi launch 'Awaam Pakistan' party|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1840952 |access-date=2024-07-07|website=dawn.com|language=en}}

On 21 June 2024, after months of speculation, a video was posted on the Twitter account of Awaam Pakistan, which featured a series of people asking questions about multiple national issues. The video featured the tagline 'عوام پاکستان: بدلیں گے نظام' ({{Literal translation|People of Pakistan: We will change the system}}).{{Cite web |last1=Ayub |first1=Imran |last2=Rehman |first2=Atika |date=2024-06-21 |title=Miftah Ismail, Khaqan Abbasi launch 'Awaam Pakistan' party |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1840952 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

On 6 July 2024, the party's formal launching ceremony was held in Islamabad. It was also announced that Abbasi had been elected as the convener of the party while Ismail was elected as the secretary during intra-party elections on 19 June. The ceremony was also attended by Mehtab Abbasi, Zaeem Qadri, and Zafar Mirza.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-07-06 |title=Ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Launches New 'Awam Pakistan' Party |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/06-Jul-2024/ex-pm-shahid-khaqan-abbasi-launches-new-awam-pakistan-party |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=The Friday Times}} They also announced that a formal outline of the party's goals and policies would be published in the coming weeks.

During the formal launching ceremony on 6 July 2024, Abbasi was asked of AP's ideology. He answered that the "concept of left and right has died in Pakistan" and that their ideology would be "helping the people of Pakistan and taking responsibility for them".

In an interview with Arab News, Ismail commented on the economic policy of the party, stating the need to "extend tax concessions to middle-income and salaried classes, focus on privatization, limit the government's footprint by encouraging the private sector and privatize the public organizations".{{Cite web |date=2024-06-23 |title=New Pakistan political party to focus on economic reform, reduce government footprint, founder says |url=https://arab.news/9bsag |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Arab News |language=en}}

{{Portal|Pakistan|Politics|Conservatism}}

• Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
• Miftah Ismail
• Right-wing politics in Pakistan
• Liaquat Ali Khan
• Allama Iqbal
• Pakistan Movement
• Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations
• List of Islamic political parties
• Zafar Mirza

{{reflist}}

Category:Political parties in Pakistan

Category:2024 establishments in Pakistan