Captain Safdar becoming a story of his own

For many years, Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar had a simple introduction in Pakistani politics: he was the husband of Maryam Nawaz and the son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif.

That introduction is still there. But something else is happening now.

Captain Safdar appears to be building an identity of his own.

He is becoming a familiar face in interviews, especially video interviews. And there is something different about the way he talks. He speaks freely. Sometimes he sounds like a seasoned politician. At other times, he sounds like a six- or seven-year-old child who has suddenly decided to tell guests something that his parents had hoped would remain inside the house.

That can create embarrassment for the whole family.

But it can also make people listen.

I think this is one reason Captain Safdar has become an interesting character in Pakistani politics. He does not always speak like a carefully trained politician. He often speaks like a man who has something on his mind and wants to say it.

In a recent digital programme, he spoke about his 35-year marriage with Maryam Nawaz, family disagreements and his decision not to become part of the Punjab cabinet.

His description of family life was particularly entertaining. He said disagreements between him and family members are usually small and have little to do with politics. He even talked about sweets being hidden from him because the family fears that eating too much sugar could affect his HbA1c.

This is not the kind of material normally found in political speeches.

But it tells a story.

He also said that when disagreements occur between him and Maryam Nawaz, she usually takes the first step towards settling them. He described their relationship as being based on respect, understanding and mutual regard rather than orders.

Then came his explanation for staying out of the Punjab cabinet. His argument was simple and humorous. If the chief minister enters a cabinet meeting and everyone has to stand in respect, he joked, why should he have to stand?

It was a joke, but it also showed that he understood the complications of being the husband of a chief minister.

Captain Safdar is also trying to make his presence felt beyond family matters. Recently, he came into the news after questioning the degree status of some lawyer leaders. In response, a lawyer was brought forward who used offensive language against him.

The episode showed another side of Safdar. He is not afraid of entering a fight of words.

And perhaps that is why he is becoming a sought-after person for video interviews. He talks about his family, politics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his opponents and many other subjects. More importantly, he knows how to tell a story.

Politics needs storytellers.

A politician who can tell a story can make people stop and listen. Captain Safdar seems to understand this naturally. He can move from a serious political subject to a family joke and then return to politics without making the conversation feel forced.

Of course, speaking freely has its risks. A politician who says everything on his mind can sometimes create problems for himself and for people around him. But there is also value in hearing politicians speak in a natural voice.

I would not describe Captain Safdar simply as Maryam Nawaz’s husband anymore. Nor should he remain only known as Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law.

He appears to be trying to become Captain Safdar in his own right.

Whether he succeeds as an independent political personality is a question for the future. But one thing is already clear: he has learned an important lesson of public life. People remember those who sound human.

Sometimes he speaks like a politician.

Sometimes he speaks like a child who has forgotten that family secrets are supposed to remain family secrets.

And sometimes, in that very innocence, there is a kind of truth.

At the end of the day, truth has a way of surviving political language.

Perhaps Pakistani politics needs more people who can speak naturally, tell a good story and allow the public to see the person behind the political title.