Marriyum Aurangzeb

Marriyum was born to Tahira Aurangzeb and Raja Aurangzeb Abbasi in Lahore on 16 July 1980. She is the niece of Najma Hameed.{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Sanaullah|title=PM appoints Maryam Aurangzeb as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1293415/pm-appoints-maryam-aurangzeb-as-minister-of-state-for-information-and-broadcasting|access-date=31 October 2016|publisher=Dawn|date=31 October 2016|ref=Dawn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101041101/http://www.dawn.com/news/1293415/pm-appoints-maryam-aurangzeb-as-minister-of-state-for-information-and-broadcasting|archive-date=1 November 2016}}{{cite news |title=Najma Hameed passes away |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/03-Dec-2022/najma-hameed-passes-away |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=The Nation |date=3 December 2022}}

She did her FSc. in Premedical in September 1996 and then Bachelor of Arts in September 1998, both from Federal Government College, Islamabad.

Aurangzeb did Master of Science in Economics from Quaid-i-Azam University in February 2002 and Master of Science in Environment and Development from King's College London in September 2003.{{cite news |title=Marriyum Aurangzeb: A trailblazer in politics and conservation |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458584/marriyum-aurangzeb-a-trailblazer-in-politics-and-conservation |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=The Express Tribune |date=6 March 2024 |language=en}}

Aurangzeb hails from a political family of Rawalpindi. Prior to entering politics, Aurangzeb worked in WWF-Pakistan from 2004 to 2013.{{cite web |title=Profile of Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712032337/https://moib.gov.pk/Profiles/8745/Minister|website=Ministry of Information |access-date=7 March 2024}} She joined Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML (N) in 2013{{cite news |title=Maryam Aurangzeb made state minister for information |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/01-Nov-2016/maryam-aurangzeb-made-state-minister-for-information |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=The Nation |date=1 November 2016}} and was elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N on a reserved seat for women in the 2013 general election. Expanding upon the parliamentary tenure of her mother Tahira Aurangzeb, she swiftly advanced in her political career.{{cite news |title=Marriyum Aurangzeb a distinguished figure with rich political legacy |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/07-Mar-2024/marriyum-aurangzeb-a-distinguished-figure-with-rich-political-legacy |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=The Nation |date=7 March 2024}}

Aurangzeb had served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Interior{{cite news|title=Maryam Aurengzeb appointed new information, broadcast minister|url=http://arynews.tv/en/maryam-aurengzeb-appointed-new-information-broadcast-minister/|access-date=31 October 2016|work=ARYNEWS|date=31 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031214344/http://arynews.tv/en/maryam-aurengzeb-appointed-new-information-broadcast-minister/|archive-date=31 October 2016}} and also as Chief Organiser of PML-N's Youth Women Wing, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/161533-Maryam-Aurangzeb-to-take-oath-as-State-Minister-for-Information-today|title=Maryam Aurangzeb to take oath as State Minister for Information today|date=1 November 2016|publisher=The News|ref=thenews|access-date=1 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101165425/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/161533-Maryam-Aurangzeb-to-take-oath-as-State-Minister-for-Information-today|archive-date=1 November 2016}} Aurangzeb was considered a close associate of Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and was an active member of the PML-N's social media team. She was also a part of Maryam's team overseeing the education sector.

In October 2016, she was inducted into the federal cabinet of PM Nawaz Sharif and was appointed the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting. She was made in charge of the Ministry of Information after Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid was sacked for failing to stop a media report on a rift between the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistan Army.{{cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|title=Woman lawmaker made incharge of Pak ministry of information|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/woman-lawmaker-made-incharge-of-pak-ministry-of-information-116103101141_1.html|access-date=1 November 2016|work=Business Standard India|date=31 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101123929/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/woman-lawmaker-made-incharge-of-pak-ministry-of-information-116103101141_1.html|archive-date=1 November 2016}}{{cite news|title=Marriyum Aurangzeb appointed Minister of State for Information|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/119323-Marriyum-Aurangzeb-appointed-Minister-of-State-for-Informaiton|access-date=31 October 2016|work=www.geo.tv|date=31 October 2016|ref=geonews|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031213543/https://www.geo.tv/latest/119323-Marriyum-Aurangzeb-appointed-Minister-of-State-for-Informaiton|archive-date=31 October 2016}}{{cite news|title=PM appoints Maryam Aurangzeb as new information minister – The Express Tribune|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1216206/pm-appoints-maryam-aurangzeb-new-information-minister/|access-date=31 October 2016|work=The Express Tribune|date=31 October 2016|ref=Tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101041056/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1216206/pm-appoints-maryam-aurangzeb-new-information-minister/|archive-date=1 November 2016}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1293415|title=PM appoints Maryam Aurangzeb as Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting|date=2016-10-31|newspaper=DAWN.COM|access-date=2016-12-31|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110110028/http://www.dawn.com/news/1293415|archive-date=2017-01-10}} She had ceased to hold ministerial office in July 2017 when the federal cabinet was disbanded following the disqualification of PM Nawaz Sharif after Panama Papers case.{{cite news|title=PM Nawaz Sharif steps down; federal cabinet stands dissolved|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pm-nawaz-gives-up-his-post-federal-cabinet-stands-dissolved/|access-date=28 July 2017|work=Daily Pakistan Global|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728114411/https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pm-nawaz-gives-up-his-post-federal-cabinet-stands-dissolved/|archive-date=28 July 2017}}

Following the election of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as Prime Minister of Pakistan in August 2017, she was inducted into the federal cabinet{{cite news|title=A 43-member new cabinet sworn in|url=https://www.app.com.pk/a-43-member-new-cabinet-sworn-in/|access-date=4 August 2017|work=Associated Press Of Pakistan|date=4 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804174456/https://www.app.com.pk/a-43-member-new-cabinet-sworn-in/|archive-date=4 August 2017}}{{cite news|title=PM Khaqan Abbasi's 43-member cabinet takes oath today|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/08/04/new-federal-cabinet-ministers-take-oath-today/|access-date=4 August 2017|publisher=Pakistan Today|date=4 August 2017}} and was re-appointed the Minister of State for Information.{{cite news|last1=Raza|first1=Syed Irfan|title=PM Abbasi's bloated cabinet sworn in|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1349710/pm-abbasis-bloated-cabinet-sworn-in|access-date=5 August 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=5 August 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805040859/https://www.dawn.com/news/1349710/pm-abbasis-bloated-cabinet-sworn-in|archive-date=5 August 2017}}{{cite news|title=Bloated cabinet: Influential ministers with powerless underlings – The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1515317/bloated-cabinet-influential-ministers-powerless-underlings/|access-date=26 September 2017|work=The Express Tribune|date=25 September 2017}} In April 2018, she was elevated as a federal minister{{cite news|title=Govt expands cabinet months before elections - The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1696773/1-govt-expands-cabinet-months-elections/|access-date=27 April 2018|work=The Express Tribune|date=27 April 2018}} and was appointed Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting.{{cite web|title=Notification April 2018|url=http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/federal-Minister-27-04-2018.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430171817/http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/federal-Minister-27-04-2018.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 April 2018|publisher=Cabinet division|access-date=30 April 2018}} Upon the dissolution of the National Assembly on the expiration of its term on 31 May 2018, Aurangzeb ceased to hold the office as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting.{{cite web |title=Notification |url=http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |publisher=Cabinet division |access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601180526/http://www.cabinet.gov.pk/userfiles1/file/fm-mos-noti-01-06-2018.pdf |archive-date=1 June 2018}}

Aurangzeb was appointed official spokesperson of PML-N on 2 June 2018.{{cite news |title=Marriyum Aurangzeb made PML-N spokesperson - Daily Times |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/248135/marriyum-aurangzeb-made-pml-n-spokesperson/ |access-date=3 June 2018 |work=Daily Times |date=3 June 2018}}

She was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PML-N on a reserved seat for women from Punjab in the 2018 general election.{{cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=The Newspaper's Staff |title=List of MNAs elected on reserved seats for women, minorities |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1426560/list-of-mnas-elected-on-reserved-seats-for-women-minorities |access-date=12 August 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=12 August 2018}} During her second tenure as MNA, she served as Federal Minister of Information & Broadcasting from April 2022 to August 2023 in the cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. She was regarded as being close to Shehbaz Sharif, often accompanying him on numerous foreign trips.

In the 2024 Pakistani general election, she filed her nomination papers as a candidate of PML-N for reserved seats for women in both the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.{{cite news |title=Marriyum Aurangzeb submits nomination papers for women's reserved seats |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/22-Dec-2023/marriyum-aurangzeb-submits-nomination-papers-for-women-s-reserved-seats |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=The Nation |date=22 December 2023}} On 23 February, she took oath as a member of Punjab Assembly.{{cite news |title=Marriyum Aurangzeb to assist Maryam Nawaz in Punjab |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1160681-marriyum-aurangzeb-to-assist-maryam-nawaz-in-punjab |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}} Due to Maryam Nawaz lack of parliamentary experience, Aurangzeb instead of being assigned to the federal government, was transferred to the Punjab government to assist Maryam in handling the provincial government’s affairs. This also caused a stir among the PML-N MPs in Punjab Assembly as some MPs believed that Aurangzeb's presence may hinder their direct access to Maryam Nawaz.{{cite news |title=PML-N lines up bigwigs to aid CM Maryam |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458526/pml-n-lines-up-bigwigs-to-aid-cm-maryam |access-date=6 March 2024 |work=The Express Tribune |date=6 March 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Tahir |first1=Zulqernain |title=Nawaz attaches Marriyum Aurangzeb with daughter for assistance |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1816622 |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=DAWN.COM |date=24 February 2024 |language=en}} Reportedly, Nawaz Sharif approved Aurangzeb as Maryam Personal Staff Officer (PSO) for assistance. On 6 March, Aurangzeb was inducted into the provincial Punjab cabinet of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and was given the status of a Senior Minister of Punjab.{{cite news |title=New 17-member Punjab cabinet takes oath |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1165133-new-17-member-punjab-cabinet-takes-oath |access-date=6 March 2024 |work=www.thenews.com.pk |date=6 March 2024 |language=en}} virtually making her the deputy chief minister of Punjab.{{cite news |title=Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinets sworn in |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1819760/punjab-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-cabinets-sworn-in |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=DAWN.COM |date=7 March 2024 |language=en}} She was allocated portfolio of Planning & Development, Environment Protection & Climate Change, Forestry, Fisheries & Wildlife, as well Chief Minister’s Special Initiatives.{{cite web |title=Punjab Cabinet |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307110232/https://www.pap.gov.pk/about_assembly/cabinet/en |publisher=Punjab Assembly |access-date=7 March 2024}}

In September 2022, Aurangzeb was accused of "using religion to instil and spread hatred" against PTI chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, resulting in a terrorism case being filed against her in an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore.{{cite news |title=PML-N’s Marriyum Aurangzeb, Javed Latif booked in terror case for ‘spreading religious hatred’ against Imran |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1710921 |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=DAWN.COM |date=19 September 2022 |language=en}} In November 2023, the ATC issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aurangzeb after she repeatedly failed to appear in court regarding the case filed against her in September 2022.{{cite news |last1=Bilal |first1=Rana |title=Lahore ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for PML-N’s Marriyum Aurangzeb in terror case |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1792436 |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=DAWN.COM |date=25 November 2023 |language=en}} However, in December 2023, accompanied by her legal team, she finally appeared before the court, leading to the lifting of the non-bailable arrest warrants.{{cite news |last1=Bilal |first1=Rana |title=Lahore ATC cancels Marriyum Aurangzeb’s non-bailable arrest warrants in terror case |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1796458 |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=DAWN.COM |date=9 December 2023 |language=en}} In January 2024, she was cleared of charges related to "anti-state speeches" by the ATC.{{cite news |last1=Sheikh |first1=Wajih Ahmad |title=Two PML-N leaders acquitted in ‘anti-state’ speech case |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1808417 |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=DAWN.COM |date=25 January 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=ATC clears PML-N leaders in hate speech case |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/1164138/atc-clears-pml-n-leaders-in-hate-speech-case/ |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=Daily Times |date=24 January 2024}}

She is married to Australian citizen Aly Taseer, who is employed at Pakistan Tobacco Company. In July 2022, former Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry accused Aurangzeb of supporting the cigarette industry, citing her husband's role as a representative of the tobacco industry in Pakistan. He further claimed that billions of rupees in tax concessions were granted to the tobacco industry due to Marriyum's advocacy, alleging that her lobbying efforts led to concessions being granted to foreign tobacco companies. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also stated its intention to submit a reference aiming for the disqualification of Aurangzeb from her position as Federal Information Minister. The reference was based on allegations of providing tax relief to her husband's tobacco company.{{cite news |last1=Ahmad |first1=Zulfiqar |title=Fawad accuses Marriyum of helping cigarette industry |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307182144/https://www.brecorder.com/news/40184830 |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=Brecorder |date=7 July 2022 |language=en}}

{{cite news |title=PTI to file disqualification reference against Marriyum Aurangzeb |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307182655/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/07/07/pti-to-file-disqualification-reference-against-marriyum-aurangzeb/ |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=Pakistan Today |date=7 July 2022}}{{cite news |title=Fawad accuses Marriyum Aurangzeb of lobbying for her husband |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/658812-Fawad-accuses-Marriyum-Aurangzeb-of-lobbying-for-her-husband- |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=Dunya News |date=14 February 2008 |language=en}}

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{{Sharif III Cabinet}}

{{Abbasi Cabinet}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1980 births

Category:Alumni of King's College London

Category:Pakistan Muslim League (N) MNAs

Category:Information ministers of Pakistan

Category:Women members of the National Assembly of Pakistan

Category:Women federal ministers of Pakistan

Category:Pakistani MNAs 2013–2018

Category:Pakistani MNAs 2018–2023

Category:Punjab MPAs 2024–2029