<\/p>\n
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to refrain from making the political atmosphere \u201ctense\u201d and from taking political rivalries too far.<\/p>\n
The remarks came after Bilawal proposed a debate between him and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif any time before the election day.<\/p>\n
Bilawal has repeatedly criticised the PML-N during his election trail as the competition heats up with less than two weeks to go to the February 8 general elections. The PPP scion\u2019s digs have prompted responses from the PML-N\u2019s top echelon in return.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Bilawal had proposed a debate between him and Nawaz. \u201cGlobally, presidential and prime ministerial candidates participate in televised debates, providing voters with crucial insights into their plans. This transparency is vital for an informed electorate ahead of the voting process,\u201d he had said.<\/p>\n
In an apparent response to the challenge, PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif had said it would have been better if the \u201cgentlemen\u201d had invited Nawaz to an inspection of Sindh than a debate.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, Bilawal had demanded the \u201ccity and on which date your brother wants to debate\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMian Nawaz Sharif can debate with me in Gambat, Khairpur. He can come and visit the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, a hospital that surpasses any hospital in Punjab, and where all treatment is absolutely free,\u201d Bilawal said.<\/p>\n
He claimed that despite being the prime minister thrice, Nawaz had never once visited Gambat. \u201cOr perhaps he would prefer to come to Tharparkar, where we can also inspect the infrastructure, and compare Thar with Cholistan. The coal project in Thar, which you and your brother opposed, is providing cheap electricity not to Karachi, but to Faisalabad,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Dawn News<\/em> show \u2018Live with Adil Shahzeb\u2019 aired on Saturday night, Shehbaz was asked about Bilawal\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n \u201cI always said he is an educated youngster with a future in this country. But that did not mean he treads a path or course that makes the political situation tense and rivalries are taken too far,\u201d the PML-N leader said.<\/p>\n He said that the essence of the charter of democracy allowed parties to presents its stance and manifesto but \u201cwe should be careful when talking about other parties and their leadership\u201d.<\/p>\n Shehbaz went on to say that Bilawal had a \u201clong way to go\u201d in politics.<\/p>\n \u201cYesterday, he said he wanted to indulge in a formal debate with Nawaz Sharif. My advice would be that instead of a faceoff, he should instead take Nawaz Sharif to inspect the province of Sindh. This way a discussion and a comparison will also take place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel that the real thing to do at the end of the day is what we are thinking about the public and what will we end up doing for them. This is what people want to hear from us. They don\u2019t want to hear someone bashing his rivals,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe poor man is drowning in poverty and unemployment. He has been crushed and this is a \u2018do-or-die situation\u2019 for Pakistan,\u201d Shehbaz concluded.<\/p>\n During his election campaign, Bilawal has time and again lambasted<\/a> the PML-N for \u201cfixing the match\u201d and vowed to \u201chunt the tiger down with the arrow\u201d, a reference to the PPP and PML-N\u2019s electoral symbols.<\/p>\n At a rally in Peshawar yesterday, the PPP chairman criticised his political opponents over their \u201creluctance\u201d to campaign for the Feb 8 elections over the \u201cflimsy excuses of cold weather and security threats\u201d.<\/p>\n \u2018Hunting the tiger down\u2019<\/h2>\n