Former MNA Sheikh Rohale Asghar has confirmed that his granddaughter is set to marry Junaid Safdar, the son of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, bringing weeks of speculation in Lahore to an end.
Speaking to journalist Shazia Zeeshan, Asghar said the wedding ceremonies are scheduled to take place in Lahore on January 16, 17, and 18.
According to him, the match has its roots in a long-standing family friendship: his granddaughter, Shanzay, is very close to Junaid’s sister, Mahnoor Safdar, and the two young women frequently spend time at each other’s homes.
Asghar said he did not know whether Mahnoor actively played matchmaker, but noted that Shanzay often met Maryam Nawaz through these visits. He added that it was Maryam who eventually approached his son, Shanzay’s father, with a proposal.
“When my son asked for my opinion, I told him it was a blessing that our granddaughter had received such a proposal and that he should go ahead with it,” Asghar recounted.
He went on to say that, after an initial meeting with the chief minister, the family was later invited by Nawaz Sharif, whom he described as an exceptionally courteous host. It was during that visit, Asghar said, that the families agreed on the wedding dates and broad outline of the events.
The celebrations are expected to be spread over three days. A joint mehndi and a valima hosted by the Sharif family will take place at their Jati Umra residence, while the bride’s side will arrange a reception at the Lake City Golf and Country Club in Lahore.
Asghar, clearly pleased, remarked that Shanzay is the third of his grandchildren to be married within the span of three months and predicted a lavish wedding with all the trappings of a high-profile political family alliance.
This will be Junaid Safdar’s second marriage. He previously wed Ayesha Saif Khan, daughter of former National Accountability Bureau chairman Saifur Rehman Khan, in 2021.
That union was marked by a high-end nikah ceremony in London and a string of celebrations spread over several days in Lahore and Islamabad. The marriage ended in 2023, with Junaid publicly announcing their separation on Instagram in October of that year.
