ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan on Sunday challenged Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to compare the two parties’ governance records, saying the PPP was ready for a policy-by-policy comparison and would accept electoral defeat if elections were held freely and fairly.
Reacting to recent statements by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, Chan questioned the credibility of the PMLN’s claim of a major electoral victory, citing the boycott by a major political party and the law-and-order situation during polling.
“If a survey is conducted across Kashmir, it should be asked whether an election could even be held for one day in such a law-and-order situation,” he said, alleging that the results appeared to have been prepared according to a predetermined formula similar to what he claimed had happened previously in Punjab.
Chan said Nawaz Sharif was senior to him and that he did not want to engage in personal criticism. However, he argued that the PMLN had enjoyed political power for decades.
Referring to the party’s political history since 1985, he said several PMLN figures had remained associated with the ruling setup even during former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s tenure. He added that the period of Imran Khan’s government should be excluded from any comparison. “By this calculation, the PMLN has had around 40 years of political power,” he claimed.
Acknowledging shortcomings in the PPP’s media strategy, Chan said his party had failed to effectively communicate its performance to the public. “I admit that our media policy is not like yours. That is our mistake,” he said.
He challenged the PMLN to compare the two parties’ records on privatisation, including the number and value of state institutions sold during their respective tenures.
Responding to Maryam Nawaz’s emphasis on transport initiatives, Chan recalled that former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had established a government transport service, which he alleged was later sold by the PMLN. He also questioned the PMLN’s performance in agriculture, describing the sector as crucial to Pakistan’s economy. He claimed that Pakistan recorded an agricultural surplus only once under a PPP government, during the tenure of President Asif Ali Zardari, while wheat had to be imported during successive PMLN governments. On public-private partnerships, Chan challenged the Punjab government to identify major projects implemented under the model that could be compared with PPP initiatives such as the Thar coal project and development schemes in Karachi.
He also criticised what he described as the PMLN’s growing reliance on bureaucracy, business figures and political families. Rejecting allegations that the PPP had engaged in political victimisation, Chan challenged the PMLN to compare the two parties’ records.
Referring to the past treatment of President Asif Ali Zardari, he said PPP leaders had exercised restraint despite what he described as severe political victimisation.
“Look at what is happening with PTI today, and also look at what happened to PPP workers in the past. Compare who was responsible,” he said.
Chan also called for a comparison of the cost of independent power producers (IPPs), circular debt and alleged financial irregularities under successive governments. “We are ready to compare every single policy with you,” he said.
The PPP leader said his party had political representation and roots in the smaller provinces and urged the PMLN leadership to pay greater attention to Balochistan and Sindh.
“Balochistan is an important issue today. Compare the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan package with any PMLN policy for the province,” he said.
He questioned the PMLN’s approach towards Sindh and Balochistan, arguing that national politics should not be viewed solely from the perspective of Lahore. “Only Lahore is not Pakistan,” Chan said, urging the PMLN leadership to visit and address the concerns of Sindh and Balochistan.
Chan also called for an investigation into public funds allegedly spent on media campaigns. Referring to the establishment of a media cell at the China Centre, he alleged that its personnel had been used for political purposes and urged the relevant authorities to prepare a report on the alleged expenditure of billions of rupees on media campaigns. Chan concluded by reiterating that the PPP would accept defeat if elections were conducted transparently. “We will accept our defeat if the elections are free and fair,” he said.
