Bilawal asks Nawaz Sharif to ensure ‘respect of votes’

Quetta: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Saturday urged  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif to ensure the integrity of the electoral process amid an ongoing war of words between the two major political parties in the lead-up to the general elections scheduled for February 2024.

Bilawal Bhutto consistently called on seasoned politicians, including the three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step aside and make way for the younger generation to lead the country.

In recent days, the PPP and PML-N have engaged in a war of words, with the Bilawal-led party accusing the caretaker government of favoring the Nawaz League and not providing a fair playing field—a claim denied by the interim setup.

The relationship between the two parties, once coalition partners under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, has become strained since the end of their joint government.

During a press conference in Quetta, the former foreign minister urged Nawaz Sharif to contest the upcoming general elections based on his manifesto rather than relying on administrative support.

Bilawal Bhutto emphasized the importance of respecting the 'vote' and avoiding any disrespect, reiterating the allegation that the PPP was not being given the same fair treatment as the PML-N.

The PPP chairman called for a new style of politics, stating that a politics centered around hatred would not be beneficial for the country. He criticized both the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, and Nawaz Sharif, urging the public not to entrust the fate of the country to leaders whose politics of hatred, division, and neglect of major issues devalue the "blood of the people."

The former foreign minister stressed that the destiny of the country lies with its people, particularly those in Balochistan, expressing trust in the Pakistani people to heed their call.