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Actor Aymen Saleem, daughter of former cricketer Saleem Yousuf, has officially joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), citing Benazir Bhutto as her lifelong inspiration.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi alongside PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Saleem said: “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 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,” she added.

Saleem 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, however, was careful to frame her decision as more than just a political move.

“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 and my people. I’m very grateful for the platform that is being provided to me. With this platform, inshallah, I will sincerely work for my country and my people,” she added.

Saleem also invoked her family background, noting that Khuhro had mentioned her father earlier during the press conference.

“He [Yousuf] 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. And inshallah, with the help of my education and the experiences I have gained, I would like to take full advantage of this opportunity.”

She closed by thanking the party leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Saleem joins a growing list of actors who have entered Pakistani politics, among them several who have affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in recent years such as Farhan Ally Agha and Shamoon Abbasi.

Reinventing herself is nothing new for Saleem. She used to work in investment banking and consulting in New York before transitioning into entertainment. But in 2021 she decided to temporarily step away from acting after the overwhelming success of her breakthrough drama Chupke Chupke, announcing on Instagram that she would “no longer be acting” before eventually returning to the screen.