Aymen Saleem Joins PPP, Cites Benazir Inspiration

Actor Aymen Saleem has joined the Pakistan Peoples Party, saying former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has inspired her since childhood. Aymen Saleem joins PPP at a press conference in Karachi alongside PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, where she described the move as a promise to Pakistan and its people.

Saleem, the daughter of former Pakistan cricketer Saleem Yousuf, said she had admired Benazir Bhutto since she was a child. She thanked the party leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, for welcoming her.

Aymen Saleem joins PPP: what she said at the announcement

“Since my childhood, I’ve been a big fan of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Every girl who has seen her journey is definitely impressed by her. I’m very happy and proud to be a part of the Pakistan Peoples Party,” she said.

She recalled Benazir Bhutto’s life in her own words, noting that she became the first female elected leader of the Muslim world at the age of 35, and faced exile, prison and threats before returning home because her people mattered more to her than her own safety.

“She was the first female elected leader of the Muslim world at just the age of 35. She faced exile, prison, threats, but she still chose to come back home, because her people mattered more to her than her own safety,” Saleem added.

She said Benazir’s journey had taught her from a young age that a girl’s dream is never too small, and that dreams have no gender. “That is why I’m here,” she said.

Saleem was careful to frame the move as more than a career change. “I would like to say that this is not a political decision for me, personally. This is a promise for me. It’s a promise that I want to make to my country, my people,” she said, adding that she would work sincerely for the country and its people with the platform provided to her.

A background beyond acting

Saleem’s path to politics is unusual. Before entering entertainment, she worked in investment banking and consulting in New York. She rose to prominence through the drama Chupke Chupke in 2021, then announced in July that year that she would no longer act, before returning to television later.

She also spoke about her family background at the press conference, noting that Khuhro had mentioned her father earlier. “He played cricket for Pakistan for over a decade. So it’s not wrong to say that patriotism is in my blood to a large extent. I have always had the passion to do something for my country,” she said.

No specific party post or responsibility for Saleem was announced at the press conference. That leaves her next step open: whether she takes on a formal role, works on a particular issue, or builds a public profile within the party first.

Khuhro, who welcomed her at the same event, has been in the news this week for calling debate on a proposed 28th Amendment premature, as reported in our coverage of Khuhro’s remarks on the 28th Amendment debate. Saleem’s joining adds a cultural dimension to a Karachi political scene that is already busy.

Actors entering politics

Saleem joins a growing list of actors who have entered Pakistani politics. Dawn Images noted that several actors affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in recent years include Farhan Ally Agha and Shamoon Abbasi. Saleem’s choice of the PPP, and her emphasis on Benazir Bhutto’s legacy, sets her apart from that group.

Karachi, where the announcement was made, remains a key political battleground. For now, Saleem’s message is simple: she sees politics as service, not as a next acting role. The city’s public life has been busy on other fronts too, from new rules for campus events at Karachi University to warnings against delays in Karachi development work, while Islamabad hosted a Shahkaar Fankaar art showcase.

Frequently asked questions

When did Aymen Saleem join the PPP?

She announced the move at a Karachi press conference alongside PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, reported on October 24.

Why did she join the PPP?

She cited Benazir Bhutto as her lifelong inspiration and described joining as a promise to Pakistan and its people.

What was Aymen Saleem known for before politics?

She worked in investment banking and consulting in New York, then rose to fame through the drama Chupke Chupke in 2021.

Has she been given a party post?

No specific post or responsibility was announced at the press conference.