Next PM won’t be from Lahore: Bilawal

KARACHI/LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Monday expressed hope that the country’s next prime minister would not be from Lahore, the stronghold of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN).

Speaking to the media in Karachi, former foreign minister said his party would contest elections “on its own” and on the basis of its manifesto. “We won’t look towards anyone [else] and [will rely] on the public [support] for [success in elections],” Bilawal said adding: “[Although] anyone can be a candidate for the prime ministership, the final decision will be that of people.”

Bilawal also termed PPP’s success in Sunday’s local government by-polls merely a trailer and said: “People proved [by voting] that they are with the PPP.”

“Even if our [political] opponents unite [against us] they won’t be able to defeat the PPP,” Bilawal claimed. “The PPP won yesterday despite not being in government,” he added.

The party chairman also claimed that his party would repeat the LB by-polls success in upcoming general election. “It is necessary that PPP forms the government [in order to] introduce people-friendly projects.”

“February 8 will be the day of victory for the manifesto of [Zulfikar Ali] Bhutto Shaheed and Benazir Bhutto,” he added.

Commenting on media reports about telephonic contact between his father and former president Asif Ali Zardari and PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal said the conversation between the two leaders took place last month, following Nawaz’s return to the country.

“This has been reported today, but it’s an old news… PPP’s doors are open to all political parties, and this should not be a very big development,” the PPP chief said, while responding to a question.

However, PPP Central Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi denied the report of a telephonic conversation between the two leaders. “I would like to clarify that the news of Mian Nawaz Sharif contacting President Asif Zardari is false and holds no truth. We urge everyone to verify information before spreading it,” he said on his official X handle.

Meanwhile, Asif Ali Zardari, while directing the party workers to get ready for the elections, said the sun of February 8 would rise with the news of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s victory. “Every worker of the PPP should start the election campaign by becoming the ambassadors of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as the days of suffering for the people are almost over; the PPP will end their problems,” he claimed in a statement on Monday.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the PPP and the PMLN had agreed to work together to save the state by taking important decisions. The development came during a telephonic conversation between PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, according to sources.

The PPP leader congratulated the PMLN supremo on his return to the country on October 21 after ending a four-year self-imposed exile in London. Both the leaders agreed that all stakeholders would play their role in saving the state, the sources added. The leaders of two major political parties also agreed to take important decisions to provide relief to the inflation-hit masses. The insiders said a huddle between the political heavyweights is likely to take place soon as they both invited each other to hold a meeting.

The conversation between the political leaders came as both parties directed their workers to start preparing for general election slated to be held on February 8 next year.

When contacted, PMLN’s former federal information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said no telephonic contact was made between the two leaders on Monday. She confirmed that Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif talked on telephone earlier.

On the other hand, starting his political activities after a gap of four years, PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif directed his party to start preparations for the upcoming general election, scheduled to take place on Feb 8, 2024.

Nawaz, accompanied by his daughter Maryam Nawaz, reached the PMLN central secretariat at Model Town from Jati Umra and held several political meetings. Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed his brother Nawaz Sharif on his arrival at Model Town. PMLN leaders including Khawaja Asif, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb and others were also present.

Nawaz Sharif told the party leaders that the PMLN had done the country’s development before and the journey would continue in future as well. He asked the party leadership to accelerate political activities and door-to-door campaign in their respective constituencies as well as in every district of the country.

The three times prime minister Nawaz Sharif discussed the future political activities of the party and the current political situation in the country. He said the PMLN would start the journey to development from where it was left off.

Nawaz Sharif also met the former MPs and ticket-holders from Sialkot and appreciated their performance at the historic reception at Minar-e-Pakistan on October 21. He told them that economy had been the main point of the PMLN agenda in the past, and this time too, it would focus on it after forming the government.

Nawaz Sharif said that the PMLN government always tried hard to improve the economy, which included industry and exports. “If Allah gives another chance, the first priority of our government will be improvement of economy,” Nawaz said and concluded that there was no greater happiness than serving people.

Following the meeting, Khawaja Asif told the media that Nawaz Sharif would contest the upcoming elections. The former defence minister also addressed the concerns raised by the PPP about level playing field and said “Everyone has a level playing field, there seems no unfairness.”

Former information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Nawaz Sharif would be the next prime minister of the country. “Nawaz Sharif has started conducting meetings from today and he met senior leadership of the party,” she said, adding that the party was ready for elections under Nawaz leadership. Marriyum also said that the PMLN had formed a committee to work on the party’s manifesto. “If anyone can steer the country out of crises, it is Nawaz Sharif. We are ready to end inflation from Pakistan under Nawaz’s guidance,” she said.

Answering a question about the rising rifts between PPP and PMLN, the former minister said the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance was still present. “Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Fazlur Rehman and others have played their role in the service of people,” she added.

Marriyum told the PPP to stop whining about level playing field and come to the election field. She said the demand for a level playing field showed that the people of Pakistan have already given a decision in favour of Nawaz Sharif on October 21, 2023.

Marriyum said PPP’s demand signified their defeat in elections. On the one hand, the PPP claimed there was no level playing field, and on the other hand, it said it would clean sweep elections, she taunted.

The National and provincial assembly tickets and parliamentary boards would be announced soon from Nov 1 to 10, Marriyum Aurangzeb said adding “we are ready for elections under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. Insha-Allah, we will end inflation; we are ready for giving employment to the youth, IT jobs, cheap fertilizers and solar energy for farmers, for peace and order and for unity and intolerance,” she added.

Former minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq said Nawaz Sharif had to come back and he had come back at the right time; the Sharif family had faced false cases and punishments.

Answering a question about Imran Khan, he said the decision of the politician in jail had to be taken by the court. However, he said May 9 incidents and the cypher affair should be dealt with according to the law.

Meanwhile, PMLN Sindh leader Bashir Memon met Nawaz Sharif. The party leader appreciated the active participation of workers and leaders from Sindh province on October 21 at Minar-e-Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif also condoled over the death of minority wing worker Karamat Masih who came to Lahore on October 21.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) delegation led by Siddiqui and including Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal will call on Nawaz Sharif at Jati Umra on Tuesday (today). A spokesperson for MQMP said PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif spoke to party convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and invited him to meet the former prime minister.