Hamza Shahbaz is Nawaz Sharif’s brother Shahbaz’s eldest son and is contesting for the first time as the PML (N)’s candidate in Old Lahore or the Walled City for the National Assembly. With Nawaz’s son Hassan running the family business, it is Hamza who has taken on the political mantle in the Sharif family.

Sitting in his tastefully done house in a posh Lahore locality, he told The Indian Express: “My education from Lahore and London puts me in good stead to lead the party and inspire the younger generation... My law degree has taught me that rule of law is critical for the development of any society.”

Hamza did his schooling from Lahore and then completed graduation at Government College in Lahore, before going on to do LLB (Honours) from the London School of Economics.

Although he hasn’t held any political post in the PML (N) so far, according to party leader Mohammad Mehdi, Hamza keeps in regular touch with party workers in Lahore.

Mehdi, also the foreign affairs coordinator of the PML (N), adds: “When Nawaz Sharif was exiled in 2000, Hamza stayed back and for the last eight years he has kept in touch with party activists.”

He talks about Hamza organising a dinner for workers on a Thursday of every month to keep himself abreast of developments and never missing a wedding or funeral of party workers.

However, Mehdi admits, right now both Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif are active influences in his political career. It may take a while before Hamza can carve out his own niche, he adds.

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