Sharjeel slams PML-N over ‘fake mandate’ politics

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over her public remarks, calling her party a “Form 47 product” and accusing it of seeking “political sympathy” in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) despite what he termed a “fake mandate”.

In a statement, Sharjeel said the AJK people had previously rejected “manufactured representation” and would do so again. “A party that has come into power based on a questionable mandate is now attempting to portray itself as a defender of Kashmiri rights,” he said.

He alleged that the party’s political history was marked by disregard for the public mandate. “A party that deprives its own people of their right to vote has no moral grounds to speak on the rights of Kashmiris,” he added.

Referring to Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) victory in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, the senior minister claimed that Kashmiris would similarly reject Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s politics.

He also criticised governance in Punjab, saying many residents still travelled to Sindh, particularly Karachi, for better healthcare facilities. “Instead of criticising others, they should review their own performance,” he added.

Sharjeel reiterated that the PPP believed in democratic values, constitutional supremacy and genuine public mandate. “Our politics revolves around public trust and service, not just the pursuit of power,” he said. He added that voters would continue to reject what he described as “politics of a fake mandate” in future elections.