Pakistan, Feb. 23 -- Maryam Nawaz is poised to become the first woman chief minister of Punjab. This moment carries immense weight, not just for herself, but for the future of the entire province. With a 40-year-old legacy linked with Punjab politics, she must possess a unique understanding of its challenges and aspirations. However, all those championing this historic moment for women's empowerment would do well to remember Ms Nawaz was able to secure this coveted slot for herself only because her father held the deciding cards. Had she been someone outside the Sharif family, could she really get a chance to climb this high, this soon?

From the looks of it, her focus on eradicating corruption and politically motivated vandalism would se...