Hours after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif nominated his younger brother Shehbaz for the post of Prime Minister, his daughter Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday sought to rebuff the impression that her father has quit active politics.

“In the next 5 years, Nawaz will not only participate in active politics but also oversee the PML-N-led governments in Punjab and at the Centre,” Maryam, the PML-N senior vice- president, said on X.

In a surprise move late on Tuesday night, the PML-N nominated Shehbaz as the prime ministerial candidate instead of Nawaz, 74. Shehbaz, 72, is expected to head the coalition of leading political parties led by PML-N as it is set to comfortably cross the simple majority mark to form the next government in Pakistan after the February 8 elections produced a fractured mandate.

The 50-year-old political heir of Nawaz Sharif, also termed the step by her father as a “principled stance” that the three-time former Premier took, as announced earlier, of not being part of a coalition government. Maryam said Nawaz Sharif is avoiding politics by not accepting the post of Prime Minister, but there is no truth in it.

Maryam, whom the party has nominated as the chief minister of Punjab province also reminded that Nawaz had led the earlier three governments.