KARACHI: The president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, took a veiled swipe at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during an election rally in the NA-127 constituency in Lahore on Tuesday. Shehbaz responded to the criticism without directly naming Bilawal and drew attention to the water-related challenges faced by Karachi, where Bilawal’s PPP ruled for over 15 years. “Karachi is plagued by tanker mafia while water reaches taps here in Lahore,” he remarked.
Addressing the rally, Shehbaz announced the PML-N’s endorsement of Attaullah Tarar from the NA-127 constituency, describing him as a brave and courageous ally of Nawaz Sharif.
He commended Tarar’s unwavering support for the party, even in the face of legal challenges, stating, “He is a young man who supported and served Nawaz Sharif, me, and the party day and night. He faced the courts but did not lose courage.”
Without explicitly mentioning Bilawal, Shehbaz alluded to a ‘kind man’ contesting against Tarar, who claims that Lahore is facing a water scarcity issue. Sharif responded by stating, “I tell my kind friend that drinking water is available in tankers in Karachi, and water for cleaning roads in Lahore is available in tankers.”
The PML-N president went on to promise that if Nawaz Sharif were to become the prime minister for the fourth time after February 8 elections, measures would be taken to eradicate the tanker mafia in Karachi, ensuring that water reaches the taps.
Highlighting Tarar’s significance in the upcoming elections, Shehbaz referred to him as the lion of Nawaz Sharif. He urged the public to vote for Tarar, emphasising, “When you stamp the lion on February 8, prosperity will come to the country because the sun of February 8 will prove to be the guarantee of the country’s development.”
The remarks made by Shehbaz Sharif are part of the ongoing political discourse as parties gear up for the upcoming elections, each presenting its vision and addressing the concerns of the public. –Agencies
