Shehbaz uses Karachi rains to taunt Bilawal

Says no single party can deal with country’s challenges alone

LAHORE:

Taunting PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his party’s alleged failure to provide the country’s economic hub a reliable infrastructure, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has said he would have withdrawn his nomination papers if Lahore had submerged under water like Karachi did after some rain.

“Bilawal’s [proposed] election debate has been swept away by Karachi rains,” Shehbaz said on Sunday during a press conference held at the PML-N’s central secretariat in Punjab’s provincial capital.

Shehbaz was referring to Bilawal’s social media post of January 26 in which he had challenged PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif to engage with him in a debate “anytime, anywhere” before February 8, the election day.

The PPP has ruled Sindh province for the last 15 years and is often criticized for ignoring Karachi, its provincial capital, where life has been disrupted by torrential rains since Saturday.

Lahore is traditionally regarded as a stronghold of the PML-N. Shehbaz Sharif served as Punjab’s provincial chief minister for two consecutive terms from 2008 till 2018 and takes credit for developing the city along modern lines.

During the press conference, the PML-N president also criticized the last PTI government, which, according to him, accused its political opponents of engaging in corruption but failed to deliver on all of its promises including the promise to end corruption.

Shehbaz said corruption could not be completely eliminated as it exists even in the most developed countries but it could be reduced.

Read Karachi plagued by tanker mafia while water reaches taps in Lahore, Shehbaz reminds Bilawal

He said when Nawaz Sharif assumed power in 2013, Pakistan was ranked 139 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. However, by the end of the PML-N government’s term in 2018, the country had climbed to 117 on the index.

“This showed a significant decrease in corruption despite the fact that during Nawaz Sharif’s term the country received around $30b investment under CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project],” he said.

He lamented that later the PTI came into power by stealing elections and when the PTI government was sent home in 2022 the country once again ranked 140 on the index.

Shehbaz, who served as the country’s prime minister between April 2022 and August 2023, stated that during his term as the PM the corruption perception index for Pakistan once again dropped to 133 within a year.

“The credit for this goes to the leadership of all thirteen parties [which were part of our ruling coalition]. If I had indulged in commissions in China's projects, I would not be holding a press conference here today," he said.

Shehbaz hoped that people would give a clear mandate to his party in the upcoming general elections. However, he said, whatever may be the result of the February 8 general elections, Nawaz Sharif will take a decision after holding consultations with party leaders.

“Pakistan is facing numerous challenges in economy, politics, and foreign relations. No single party alone can handle these challenges.

“We will proceed with consultation in parliament, and also involve state institutions. Everyone must work within the constitutional framework and cooperate with each other," he said.

Shehbaz said development and political stability are interlinked. He called for restoring unity, solidarity, and love in the country. “If we do not stand united then this poison of hatred cannot be removed.”

The former prime minister, however, clarified that this reconciliation does not mean hiding someone’s wrongdoing or ending legal cases.

Talking with reference to the various cases in which former prime minister Imran Khan was convicted lately, Shehbaz said these verdicts were issued by courts. He asked the PTI chief to introspect.