Lavish Lahore Wedding of Sharif Grandson Sparks Fashion Firestorm
The grand wedding ceremony of Junaid Safdar, son of prominent Pakistani leader Maryam Nawaz, captured national attention in Lahore. Junaid married Shanzeh Ali in a celebration that quickly dominated social media platforms. The groom is the grandson of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while the bride comes from a family with long-standing political connections to the Sharifs.
Maryam Nawaz's Outfits Steal the Spotlight
Even before guests focused on the bride, Maryam Nawaz emerged as a central figure in online discussions. The Punjab Chief Minister made striking fashion choices for her son's wedding events. She wore a vibrant yellow and powder-orange lehenga for the mehendi ceremony. For the main wedding, she selected a traditional mint green outfit that drew considerable attention.
As photographs from the celebrations circulated widely, social media users expressed sharply divided opinions. Some commentators praised Maryam's appearance enthusiastically. Others accused her of deliberately overshadowing the bride on her special day.
Critical voices dominated many platforms. One user wrote bluntly about what they perceived as Maryam's "never-ending obsession to dress up/act as a bride." Another commenter stated flatly, "She did it to the first bahu and now she's doing it again. Self-obsessed, pathetic log."
Several participants in the online debate emphasized traditional wedding etiquette. "The most important person in a wedding is the bride," one person insisted. "Absolutely no one should wear better clothes than the bride." Another simply asked, "So why she dressed like a dulhan?"
Not all reactions were negative. Some social media users defended Maryam's right to look her best. "Every mother has the right to look most Beautiful at the wedding of her son," wrote one supporter.
Bride's Indian Designer Choices Fuel Controversy
The bride, Shanzeh Ali, also found herself at the center of online debates about fashion. Her clothing selections generated significant discussion across Pakistani social media.
For her mehendi ceremony, Shanzeh chose a lehenga created by renowned Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. She wore a heavy red saree by another famous Indian designer, Tarun Tahiliani, for the main wedding event. This outfit featured a diamond choker with a large emerald at its center.
The decision to wear Indian designer outfits provoked strong reactions. Many Pakistani social media users expressed disappointment and criticism. One Instagram comment described the choices as "very mid" and suggested Pakistani designers could have created superior alternatives.
Nationalistic sentiments surfaced in the discussions. "Shame on giving taxes to India," declared one commenter. Another user questioned the apparent preference for Indian designers, noting, "They drool over our Pakistani clothes and look at this!"
Background on the Groom's Previous Marriage
This wedding marks Junaid Safdar's second marriage. He previously married Ayesha Saif, daughter of former National Accountability Bureau chairman Saifur Rehman Khan, in 2021. The couple ended their marriage after approximately two years together. Junaid publicly announced their divorce through an Instagram post in 2023.
The wedding celebrations highlighted ongoing tensions between political visibility, fashion statements, and cultural expectations in Pakistan's public sphere. What began as a family celebration transformed into a national conversation about appropriate attire, national pride, and media attention during significant personal events.
