Politicians should not engage in provincialism, say experts

Nawaz Sharif has lost popularity and has to leave politics of linguistic and provincialism, says Naveed Hussain


Noman Awan February 02, 2024

Political analysts advised politicians not to engage in politics of 'provincialism' and linguistic biases as they expressed surprise at political leaders complaining to the public. 

“The truth is now being revealed, Nawaz Sharif has lost popularity and has to leave politics of linguistic and provincialism," said The Express Tribune's Chief Editor Naveed Hussain on Express News talk show 'Experts' while referring to Nawaz's earlier statement about the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Hussain emphasised that the PML-N supremo was assured that his opponents had been expelled from politics and the system and now he is the favourite of the 'selector' and will be the 'darling of the people'.

The senior journalist suggested that Nawaz's return to the country has led to his realisation of the actual state of affairs.

“PML does not anticipate success in K-P, they have no hope in Sindh and Balochistan and even in Punjab their influence is primarily restricted to central Punjab,” said Hussain. 

The senior journalist also voiced his criticism of Nawaz's speech and said if the people of K-P are naive, than they also have elected almost all parties including the PML-N in the past. “I would say the voter of KP is a conscious voter who gave every party a chance” Hussain observed. 

Hussain also advised Nawaz to extend his complaints to the people of Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as the PTI government was also in power in those regions.

Group Editor of Express News, Ayaz Khan, voiced his criticism of Nawaz's point of view, stating that if the PML-N supremo previously claimed Imran Khan was 'selected and imposed', then blaming the people for their choice is unfair.

Khan raised concerns about the credibility of elections, asserting that while people are prepared to vote, they remain uncertain about the results due to the belief that the election outcome will be 'engineered'. “Until the reputation is restored, all talk is meaningless” he emphasised.

While referring to Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's speech, in which he expressed his resolve to make Punjab resemble Sindh, Khan remarked that the people of Punjab are praying to Allah, that Punjab not become like Sindh.

Khan also criticised the leaders complaining to the people, emphasising that it is unprecedented for leaders to voice complaints to voters.

He highlighted the vast difference between Nawaz and Imran, noting that the PTI founder was not even allowed to complete five years in power, whereas Nawaz had been in power for decades, indicating that there is no valid comparison between the two leaders.

Express News Karachi's Bureau Chief, Faisal Hussain, predicted that this tenure marks the last opportunity for politicians to complain to the people. Faisal voiced his criticism of Bilawal targeting development in Punjab and stated that his words are beyond understanding.

“If the Orange Train has been built, the metro is functional, roads have been built, sanitation has been improved, then it is a good thing, why has the PPP during its fifteen years of governance in Sind not undertaken such projects and who barred them,” Faisal asked.

The bureau chief also highlighted the decline in essential services and infrastructure during the PPP's governance in Karachi.

“This is the situation of the metropolitan city of Sindh, there is no one to raise their voice against oppression in villages, it is astonishing that after fifteen years of governments, Bilawal is asking others why development was not done in Sindh.” 

Express News Islamabad Bureau Chief, Amir Ilyas Rana, criticised Bilawal and highlighted that he is complaining to those who have undertaken development work.

Regarding the metro train, Rana asserted that it's not only the citizens of Lahore who benefit from it, but people from all over Pakistan utilise its services.

Rana also supported Nawaz's complaints to the people, considering them fact-based and valid. The bureau chief cited the PTI government's first five years in K-P and PML-N's reconciliation-based politics. He claimed that Nawaz exhibited tolerance, whereas PTI adopted sit-in politics.

Express News Bureau Chief Lahore Mohammad Ilyas asserted people should come out and vote to choose their representatives on February 8.

Ilyas maintained that all politicians have been scrutinized by the people, and now it is up to them to determine the best option available.

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