Jinnah's out of the bottle in Maryam Nawaz renaming drama

It was a cheeky attempt to rename an old medical institute that took its name from Baba-e-Qaum with that of Maryam. Replace Pakistan's founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with Maryam Sharif, the Punjab Chief Minister. Lo and behold, the Jinnah was out of the bottle. A wave of criticism and memefest followed, and the government of Pakistan's Punjab had to make a desperate U-turn.

Maryam Nawaz isn't just the CM of Punjab, she is the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Her supporters must have thought that the scion of the Sharif khaandaan deserved her share of sycophancy.

It all started with the Punjab government's recent announcement that an extension of the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore was being renamed Maryam Nawaz Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Punjab Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique initially stated on Monday that the renaming reflected the hospital's new identity as a separate entity, no longer an expansion of Jinnah Hospital Lahore.

The plan for the institute, originally announced by former Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in October 2023, involved a facility adjacent to Jinnah Hospital. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, speaking in the Punjab Assembly on Saturday, described the project as an extension of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), noting its near completion to address the rising burden of heart diseases.

Social media erupted with criticism, memes, and sarcastic remarks, and from politicians to actors, everyone decried the move.

BETRAYAL OF JINNAH, SAY PAKISTANIS

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Moonis Elahi called it "outrageous", condemning the replacement of Jinnah's name.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab leader Faisal Mir criticised the move as an act of "small people", erasing the legacy of Pakistan's founder. Former Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar sarcastically remarked, "Jinnah who?" highlighting the audacity of the decision.

Journalist Mona Alam emphasised, "Jinnah’s name is a red line for every Pakistani."

Social media reactions amplified the controversy and the criticism.

Faisal Rana on Instagram called the renaming "disrespectful" and a "betrayal" of Jinnah. Another social media user, Faisal Aleem sarcastically remarked, "Why build something new when you can just rename something old?"

Others mocked the decision with memes, including Fasi Zaka's image of landmarks renamed after Sharif family members and a currency note with Maryam Nawaz's picture replacing Jinnah's.

Even celebrities didn't hold back in denouncing the move.

Pakistani author and stand-up comedian Shehzad Ghias Shaikh quipped about renaming Punjab to "Maryam Nawaz", while Pakistani television and radio personality Talat Hussain dubbed it "The Maryam Nawaz Institute of Confusiology."

An X user, Awaam Se, suggested renaming the Constitution to "Qanoon-e-Sharif".

Some accused her of "megalomania" and compared her to Imran Khan, with Hassan on X noting, "She’s proving to be an even bigger narcissist than Imran. When you have the military's backing, there's no fear of the people or the vote. Do whatever you want."

PUNJAB GOVT FORCED TO RETAIN JINNAH NAME

Following intense backlash, Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on Tuesday that no renaming was under consideration, clarifying that the institute retained its original name, Jinnah Institute of Cardiology, as reflected in the 2025-26 annual development programme.

She noted that 14 new hospitals were planned in the Nawaz Sharif Medical District, with the masterplan nearing completion.

Rafique also clarified that official documents showed no name change.

What the Punjab government might have thought would please a member of one of Pakistan's most powerful ruling families ended up creating a massive controversy, from which there was no way but retreat. Jinnah's ghost must be haunting Maryam Nawaz.

- Ends