Bilawal Bhutto takes a swipe at Nawaz for avoiding debate showdown

The whirlwind atmosphere of elections has transformed former allies into foes, as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) are capitalising on each other's vulnerabilities.

These two prominent parties have been engaged in a sharp banter, dissecting each other's performance and political approaches.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto extended a challenge to PML-N counterparts for a live debate during the elections. The PML-N gave his challenge the cold shoulder.

As rivals averted their gaze from the challenge, Bilawal Zardari labelled PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif as a “coward.”

Taking to microblogging site X, the former foreign minister wrote: "Another day goes by and Nawaz Sharif has still refused to accept our invitation to have a live debate of PM candidates before the elections on February 8th. It seems the wanna be 4th time PM is too cowardly to face me in a debate and allow the people of Pakistan an opportunity to make an informed choice on Election Day.”

Another day goes by and Nawaz Sharif has still refused to accept our invitation to have a live debate of PM candidates before the elections on February 8th. It seems the wanna be 4th time PM is too cowardly to face me in a debate and allow the people of Pakistan an opportunity to…

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 30, 2024

As both major contenders in the upcoming election aim to secure maximum support in Punjab, a pivotal region for forming the government at the center, the leadership of both parties has been exchanging jibes during election rallies.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has already rebuffed Bilawal, sneeringly suggesting that it would have been more fitting for Bilawal to invite Nawaz Sharif to inspect Sindh.

نواز شریف کو مناظرے کے بجائے سندھ کے معائنے کی دعوت دیتے تو اچھا تھا اور کسی کو شیر سے شکایت ہے کہ وہ شکار نہیں کر رہا، انہیں بتانا چاہتا ہوں 8 فروری کو پتہ لگ جائے گا — بلکہ لگ پتہ جائے گا۔

صدر مسلم لیگ (ن) شہباز شریف کا راولپنڈی میں دھواں دھار خطاب۔#ShehbazInRWP pic.twitter.com/TGObltBbDl

— PMLN (@pmln_org) January 27, 2024

The aspiring prime minister outlined his provincial government projects in a post on 'X'. He stated, "Despite Mian Sahib holding the prime minister position three times, he never visited Gambat or Tharparkar. He can inspect the infrastructure, compare Thar with Cholistan, and inspect the coal project in Thar that you and your brother used to oppose which is providing affordable electricity not to Karachi but Faisalabad.

He challenged former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to a public debate outside the Karachi NICVD, where over 84,000 Punjabis received treatment last year."

میں مناظرے اور معائنے کے لئے تیار ہوں، میاں نواز شریف مجھ سے خیرپور گمبٹ میں مناظرہ کرلیں جہاں کا اسپتال پنجاب کے کسی بھی اسپتال سے بہتر ہے اور یہاں علاج بالکل مفت ہے اور میاں صاحب نے تین بار وزیراعظم بننے کے باوجود بھی گمبٹ کا دورہ نہیں کیا یا وہ تھرپارکر آجائیں، وہاں کے… https://t.co/WThzbP0P6j

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 27, 2024