LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has begun meeting PML-N lawmakers on a regular basis to hear their concerns and address issues being faced by their constituents, apparently in an attempt to bridge a growing gap between the party’s legislators and the administrative machinery in the province. On Friday, PML-N MPAs from Bahawalnagar called on the CM and discussed the prevailing political situation, development projects in their constituencies and public issues. The meeting was part of a renewed effort by Ms Nawaz to engage with the party’s lawmakers more frequently. The PML-N legislators from Mandi Bahauddin had also met her over a week ago. CM’s ‘preference for bureaucracy’ has caused resentment among lawmakers The chief minister has been finding it difficult to regularly meet party lawmakers since assuming office in February 2024 because of her demanding schedule and extensive administrative engagements. However, the move to hold more frequent meetings comes against the backdrop of complaints among PML-N MPAs, particularly those representing rural constituencies, that the bureaucracy and police are not giving them importance when they approach them to resolve problems faced by their voters. Soon after taking charge as the CM, Maryam Nawaz had made it clear to the party’s lawmakers that, unlike the practice in the past, they would have no role in civil, administrative or police postings and transfers. The policy was intended to promote merit and professionalism in the provincial administration and prevent political interference in appointments. But it has also caused some unease among PML-N lawmakers, who say that while they do not necessarily want to dictate transfers and postings, they expect government officials to listen to them when they raise “genuine public grievances”. “What most PML-N MPAs want is that the police and bureaucracy give them respect in their constituencies where they go for redress of grievances of their voters. If the chief minister does not bother about them and gives preference to the bureaucracy over them, certainly they will be hurt,” a senior PML-N leader from Punjab told Dawn. He said the issue had been discussed within the party and Ms Maryam had been advised to establish a regular interaction with lawmakers so that their concerns could be heard directly by her. “There may be some ambitious lawmakers who want to run the administrative affairs of their constituencies, but most of them just want respect,” he said. According to the PML-N leader, elected representatives are under considerable pressure from constituents, particularly in the rural areas, who approach them over issues, ranging from policing and land disputes to municipal services, development schemes and other matters involving government departments. “When an MPA takes a complaint to a district officer or a police official and is not given due importance, he faces the anger of his voters. The lawmakers want the chief minister to understand this problem,” he said. The leader said the chief minister’s decision to meet lawmakers more frequently could help address the sense of alienation among some party legislators without compromising her policy of keeping political influence away from postings and transfers. He added that, given the current political environment, Ms Maryam was expected to continue meeting PML-N MPAs and listening to their grievances. The Punjab government, however, maintains that the CM’s policy of merit-based appointments is deliberate and represents a departure from the traditional practice of political interference in the bureaucracy and police. Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari had previously told Dawn that all appointments were now being made strictly on merit and that there was no room for political influence by ruling-party lawmakers or other individuals. Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2026