Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President and former interior minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday predicted that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will admit soon that his party would form the government after the upcoming general elections in the country, scheduled to be held on February 8.
Sanaullah’s remarks came on the occasion of the induction of former members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) into the PML-N at the party secretariat in Lahore’s Model Town, as reported by Express News.
Sanaullah commented on Bilawal’s recent purported shift in political rhetoric, noting that the former foreign minister had initially claimed a PPP government, then spoke of a coalition government. He continued by saying that soon Bilawal would acknowledge the PML-N as the party set to form the next government.
Sanaullah called Bilawal his younger brother and urged him to engage in electoral competition in Punjab but emphasised the need to steer clear of confrontational politics. He underscored the importance of avoiding disruptive tactics in political discourse.
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Emphasising the gradual strengthening of democracy in the country, asserting that “interference in politics”, as witnessed in the past, is on the decline.
He outlined a post-election strategy, expressing the intention to bring all stakeholders together after the polls, with a confident projection of the PML-N securing more than 40 out of 46 seats in South Punjab.
In response to recent statements by Bilawal, Sanaullah conveyed that the PML-N aims to reduce bitterness rather than escalate it, avoiding a tit-for-tat approach.
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He emphasised a commitment to unity even after the elections, stating that the party plans to extend an inclusive approach to all political entities.
Sanaullah said that the Pakistan Democratic Government (PDM) was formed against the PTI government and it later transformed into a government alliance. However, he added that it was never an electoral alliance.
Regarding a potential alliance with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s party Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam (Fazl) in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Sanaullah revealed that discussions are underway, but a final decision has yet to be reached.
He asserted that in constituencies in Punjab where the PML-N boasts a strong grassroots candidate, that individual will be granted the party ticket. However, in cases where there isn’t a formidable candidate, Sanaullah acknowledged the possibility of fielding electables.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the former husband of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi Khawar Maneka’s recent interview, Sanaullah encouraged the public to carefully listen to the content and assess the credibility of Maneka’s claims.
He went on to express his own perspective, stating that, based on his information, a significant portion of Maneka’s statements in the interview were accurate.
