By Zain Khan Watozai
Rana Mashood, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Youth Affairs and a loyal stalwart of the PML-N, is back in the limelight for his eyebrow-raising remarks during an interview with Salman Durrani of Azad Digital. Formerly Punjab’s sports minister, Mashood made headlines this time with his sharp criticism of those who switched allegiance to Imran Khan despite benefitting from PML-N’s youth-centric initiatives.
The controversy stems from Mashood’s tenure in the Punjab government (2013-2018), when the PML-N claimed to have distributed 100,000 laptops under the “Shahbaz Sharif Laptop Scheme.” It was once seen as a hallmark of the party’s efforts to empower youth. However, many recipients of these laptops soon found themselves politically enamored with Imran Khan’s PTI, which led to viral jokes about pictures of Imran Khan gracing laptops distributed by the PML-N.
During his interview, Mashood lashed out, calling these beneficiaries “rotten eggs.” His remark sparked amusement and criticism on social media, with users dubbing it a reflection of the PML-N’s struggles to regain traction among young voters. “It’s ironic,” tweeted one user, “You gave laptops; they gave hope. Guess which one won hearts?”
Mashood’s remarks are a microcosm of PML-N’s larger issues, as the party tries to counter PTI’s massive popularity with the youth. Interestingly, this isn’t Mashood’s first brush with infamy. He went viral after Pakistan’s javelin Olympian Arshad Nadeem won a gold medal and Mashood exclaimed while holding Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s hand, “Sir, this is your vision!”
The comment, meant to credit the Prime Minister, faced immediate backlash. Critics highlighted how Nadeem’s journey to glory was entirely self-funded, with no financial or moral support from the government or its representatives. Many labeled Mashood’s statement as “tone-deaf,” given that Nadeem and his coach had repeatedly called out the lack of institutional backing during his training.
Rana Mashood also heaped praise on Maryam Nawaz, confidently claiming that her popularity is “soaring day by day” and that PML-N will clean sweep in upcoming elections. While Maryam Nawaz’s star power remains an essential part of PML-N’s strategy, political analysts argue that Mashood’s confidence in a clean sweep sounds more like pre-election bravado than a realistic assessment.
For a party grappling with internal challenges, a perceived lack of connection with the youth, and growing disenchantment among voters, Mashood’s remarks highlight the daunting road ahead for PML-N. Whether his aggressive rhetoric will rally the youth or further alienate them remains to be seen.
For now, one thing is certain—Rana Mashood’s soundbites have kept both critics and comedians busy, as PML-N attempts to reclaim relevance in the ever-shifting sands of Pakistani politics.
