LAHORE: PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday held a rally in NA-127 constituency where the party candidate Attaullah Tarar is contesting against PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

This is the first poll-related visit of the PML-N leadership to a constituency in Lahore where any other party leader is a candidate. Earlier, Nawaz, Shehbaz and Maryam only visited their own constituencies or of their family members in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Shehbaz shared with the party supporters the reasons why Tarar was given the ticket despite being an ‘outsider’.

“Attaullah Tarar is one of the most loyal party men. He served Nawaz and others the most during their incarceration,” he said.

Taking a jibe at Bilawal’s for challenging the PML-N supremo to hold a live TV debate with him regarding their respective plans to serve the people, Shehbaz said even those are talking of ‘live debate’ in whose own city was facing water shortage.

“I promise you that Nawaz will end tanker system in Karachi and ensure provision of water in taps after getting elected in Feb 8 elections,” he said and asked the people to vote for the PML-N if they want development of their constituency.

Maryam also talked about “several sacrifices of Tarar” for the party. She said a live debate would be held only if he (Bilawal) launched a metro bus in Sindh, like Shehbaz did in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2024