With barely two weeks to go for the Feb 8 general elections, former foreign minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday challenged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Nawaz Sharif to an open debate on the problems facing the country.
“As I am a PPP candidate vying for the PM post [in the upcoming general elections], [international norms dictate that] the PML-N candidate (Nawaz Sharif) should come forward and engage in a debate with me,” the scion of the Bhutto family issued the challenge on his official X account.
Bilawal said, “I invite the PM candidate of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, to engage in a debate with me anytime, anywhere before Feb 8.”
He said, “Globally, Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates participate in televised debates, providing voters with crucial insights into their plans.
“This transparency is vital for an informed electorate ahead of the voting process.”
Earlier during the day, the PPP chairman addressed a rally in Multan, where he delivered a message to the PML-N leadership, saying that they believed that they had “fixed the match, but that is not true”.
Match-fixing is a term used in cricket to describe the act of arranging the outcome of a match prior to it being played, but in this case Bilawal was referring to the general elections.
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Bilawal warned that the current state of Pakistan was “dangerous” due to the division caused by traditional politicians among society and institutions.
The former minister took an aim at the former coalition partner PML-N, asserting: "Politicians who have held the Prime Minister Office thrice are angling for the chair for the fourth time.”
In an apparent dig at Nawaz, Bilawal claimed that the former prime minister had no inclination to address the pressing issues faced by the people.
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری قاسم پورہ ملتان کے ٹیکنالوجی کالج کرکٹ گراؤنڈ میں انتخابی جلسہ عام سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔@BBhuttoZardari #چنو_نئی_سوچ_کو #MultanWithBilawal pic.twitter.com/m8smmsVFTr
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) January 26, 2024
Highlighting the unprecedented levels of inflation and unemployment in the country, the PPP chairman said: "At present, no party, except the PPP, has a comprehensive plan to tackle these issues. Other political entities are solely focused on elections for their own gains, neglecting the well-being of the people."
The former foreign minister acknowledged the sacrifices made by the military and the police to eradicate terrorism but pointed out that "the resurgence of terrorism today is a consequence of the social division sown by ageing politicians”.
“It's time to bury the politics of hate.”
پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری قاسم پورہ ملتان جلسے عام میں شریک شرکاء کے پرجوش استقبال کا خیرمقدم کررہے ہیں@BBhuttoZardari #چنو_نئ_سوچ_کو #MultanBhuttoKa pic.twitter.com/XAVQahboa1
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) January 26, 2024
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Detailing his plans for governance, Bilawal said that upon assuming power, he would streamline the system by eliminating 17 unnecessary ministries and redirecting those funds to benefit the public.
“We will stop the annual subsidy of Rs1,500 billion for the elite, opting to impose taxes on capitalists to ease the burden on the poor,” he added.
The PPP chairman stressed, "I have personally crafted PPP’s economic plan, and our first priority upon assuming power will be their swift implementation to curb inflation and unemployment."
لائیو: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کا قاسم پورہ ملتان کے ٹیکنالوجی کالج کرکٹ گراؤنڈ میں انتخابی جلسہ عام https://t.co/DmcjE2MzeR
— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) January 26, 2024
Without naming Nawaz, Bilawal said that the sole purpose of some politicians was to sit on the PM’s chair for the fourth time.
“Members of the PML-N believe that they have fixed the match, but that is not true. They are unable to even step outside their houses,” he added.
The former foreign minister said that he would become the prime minister with the support of the people and would appoint the Punjab chief minister from South Punjab.
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and other party leaders also addressed the rally participants.
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