In the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) inaugural rally for the upcoming general elections in Okara, the party’s Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz strongly criticized political rivals Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) without naming it, calling it a “terrorist party” and questioning the allocation of an electoral symbol to such an entity.
The PML-N, which had faced delays in launching its campaign, is now gearing up for the February 8 polls and is set to reveal its manifesto.
The delay in the campaign kick-off was attributed to the PML-N’s extensive deliberations on ticket distribution and seat adjustments with the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
Party leader Nawaz Sharif, concerned about his party being labeled the ‘favorite’ of the establishment, aims to dispel the impression during the election campaign, according to insider sources.
During her address to party supporters, Maryam Nawaz, without explicitly naming the PTI, asserted that a “terrorist party” should not be assigned an election symbol like other political entities.
She hurled an array of criticism at Imran Khan during the address and blamed him for orchestrating and carrying out the May 9 violent attacks.
She mocked Khan for snatching of his electoral symbol, saying that his election symbol should not be a bat but a “baton”.
The PML-N chief organizer also dubbed Imran Khan’s party a group of terrorists. “A terrorist group could not be given a political party’s electoral symbol,” she said.
“Your electoral symbol should be the watch that you stole or the petrol bomb that you hurled on police officials,” she said, adding “what goes around comes around”.
“Your electoral symbol was not bat but baton with which you attacked military installments. The baton has been snatched from your hand,” she maintained.
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the PTI’s current situation is a consequence of its own actions and warned that the nation would not tolerate a political party manipulating its internal elections without consequences.
Referring to Imran Khan without explicitly mentioning his name, Maryam stated, “He was used to getting bails […] he was used to facilitation. But neither the facilitation nor the facilitators remain.”
She asserted that now only the law and the nation would determine the outcomes.
Maryam assured supporters that if the PML-N emerged victorious in the upcoming polls, it would prioritize issues such as good education, cheap electricity, women empowerment, and an improved living standard. She stressed that the PML-N did not seek revenge and believed in facing challenges truthfully and honestly.
The PML-N leader also highlighted that Nawaz Sharif’s “real umpire” was the public, expressing confidence that the people would bring him back to power.
