PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has called on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to avoid escalating political tensions and refrain from taking political rivalries to extremes.

The appeal comes in response to Bilawal’s proposal for a debate between him and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif ahead of the February 8 general elections.

I invite the PM candidate of @pmln_org, @NawazSharifMNS, to engage in a debate with me anytime, anywhere before Feb 8. Globally, Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates participate in televised debates, providing voters with crucial insights into their plans. This…

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 26, 2024

Bilawal, during his election trail, has been critical of the PML-N, prompting responses from the top leadership of the opposing party. On Friday, Bilawal proposed a televised debate between him and Nawaz Sharif, citing the global practice of such debates to provide voters with crucial insights into candidates’ plans.

Shehbaz Sharif, in apparent response to the challenge, suggested that it would have been more meaningful if the invitation had been extended to Nawaz Sharif for an inspection of Sindh rather than a debate.

کل ایک صاحب نے نواز شریف کو مناظرے کی دعوت دی۔ وہ نواز شریف کو مناظرے کے بجائے سندھ کے معائنے کی دعوت دیتے تو اچھا تھا، مناظرہ بھی ہو جاتا اور موازنہ بھی

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 27, 2024

In a subsequent exchange, Bilawal demanded clarification on the city and date for the proposed debate. He also suggested Nawaz Sharif could visit Gambat in Khairpur to inspect the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences and compare it with Punjab’s hospitals.

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

“Mian Nawaz Sharif can debate with me in Gambat, Khairpur. He can come and visit the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, a hospital that surpasses any hospital in Punjab, and where all treatment is absolutely free,” Bilawal said.

He claimed that despite being the prime minister thrice, Nawaz had never once visited Gambat. “Or perhaps he would prefer to come to Tharparkar, where we can also inspect the infrastructure, and compare Thar with Cholistan. The coal project in Thar, which you and your brother opposed, is providing cheap electricity not to Karachi, but to Faisalabad,” he said.

In an interview on the Dawn News show ‘Live with Adil Shahzeb’ aired on Saturday night, Shehbaz Sharif commented on Bilawal’s proposal, acknowledging him as an educated youngster with a future in the country but cautioned against making the political situation tense and taking rivalries too far.

بلاول نے کل کہا کہ میں نواز شریف سے مناظرہ کرنا چاہتا ہوں ۔ مناظرے کی بجائے وہ میاں نواز شریف کو سندھ میں معائنے کے لیے لے جائیں ۔ مناظرہ بھی ہو جائے گا اور موازنہ بھی ۔

شہباز شریف کا بلاول بھٹو کے مناظرے کے چیلنج کا جواب @CMShehbaz pic.twitter.com/ZTkvJxhWLY

— Live with Adil Shahzeb (@AShahzebLive) January 27, 2024

“I feel that the real thing to do at the end of the day is what we are thinking about the public and what will we end up doing for them. This is what people want to hear from us. They don’t want to hear someone bashing his rivals,” he said.

“The poor man is drowning in poverty and unemployment. He has been crushed and this is a ‘do-or-die situation’ for Pakistan,” Shehbaz concluded.

Shehbaz suggested that Bilawal could take Nawaz Sharif on a tour of Sindh instead of a formal debate, allowing for a discussion and comparison of the province. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the public and addressing their concerns, urging political discourse that revolves around the welfare of the people.

Responding to Shehbaz’s comments, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, on Sunday, reiterated his challenge for a debate and requested information on when and where Nawaz Sharif wishes to engage. He affirmed his readiness for any debate and scrutiny, asserting that deflecting from the challenge would not be effective.

I am ready for any debate and scrutiny. Mian Nawaz Sharif can debate with me in Gambat, Khairpur. He can come and visit the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, a hospital that surpasses any hospital in Punjab, and where all treatment is absolutely free. Despite being Prime… https://t.co/WThzbP0P6j

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 28, 2024

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Bilawal emphasized the global norm of televised debates and the transparency they provide to voters. He stated that such transparency is crucial for an informed electorate before the voting process. The challenge for a debate continues to add a dynamic element to the political landscape as the general elections draw closer.