Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif turned heads on Thursday evening as she stepped out in a Nomi Ansari ensemble for her son Junaid Safdar’s wedding celebrations, setting social media abuzz and firmly placing the family festivities in the spotlight.
Photos and clips from the event quickly made their way online, where supporters praised the chief minister’s poised appearance at the private celebration.
Among the posts circulating on X, Aslam Virk wrote in Urdu, "Hamari Shehzadi Vezir-e-Alaa" followed by “Super CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.”
Irshad Ahmad commented, “MashAllah so cute lovely beautiful CM Punjab Madam Maryam Nawaz Sharif,” while user @cuisine_moon congratulated Maryam Nawaz and Junaid Safdar on the occasion.
Political activist Sidra Aslam summed up the mood in a brief post, calling her the “Prettiest CM.”
The wedding festivities themselves are unfolding in a close-knit family setting.
On Thursday night, Safdar shared a glimpse from the first of his wedding events, the mehendi, held at the Sharif family’s Jati Umrah residence in Lahore.
The photograph captured a tender moment on stage as Safdar welcomed his bride-to-be, Shanzeh Ali Rohale. Maryam Nawaz was seen placing Shanzeh’s hand into her son’s, marking a quiet, symbolic highlight of the evening.
“But once in a while it happens. Once in a while, the dream comes true. And the whole pattern of life is altered. Once in a while, the moon turns blue,” Safdar wrote in the caption accompanying the image.
For the green-themed mehendi, Safdar wore a custom navy blue cotton shalwar kameez paired with a waistcoat by HSY. Gold buttons and a brown shawl draped over one shoulder added a refined touch to the look.
Shanzeh chose a Sabyasachi heritage collection emerald green lehenga, intricately woven with muted purples, greens and maroons.
The ensemble stood out against a mint green and pink rose backdrop, while a tea-pink dupatta added softness to the overall styling. She completed her look with statement kundan jewellery, with renowned makeup artist Saad Samie opting for a nude makeup palette.
The reception and valima have been scheduled for January 17 and 18, respectively, with the valima also set to take place at Jati Umrah.
This marks Junaid Safdar’s second marriage. He was previously married to Ayesha Saif Khan, daughter of former National Accountability Bureau chairman Saifur Rehman Khan, in 2021. That wedding included a London nikah followed by multiple events in Lahore and Islamabad. The couple parted ways in 2023, with Safdar announcing the divorce on Instagram in October of that year.