Premiership hopeful Bilawal blasts PML-N over narrative of Nawaz's fourth term

• "Do you wish to see politics of hate continue?" asks Bilawal.
• PPP chairman reiterates claim to build 3 million homes.
• Promises to double salaries and provide free electricity.

With the political temperature increasing with every passing day ahead of the February 8 election, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Tuesday fired a fresh salvo against Pakistan Mulsim League-Nawaz (PML-N) censuring the latter for creating a narrative suggesting its supremo Nawaz Sharif's return to the Prime Minister's House for the fourth time.

Addressing a political gathering in Dera Ismail Khan, Bilawal stressed that the contest in the upcoming elections is between arrow and lion — the election symbols of the PPP and the PML-N, respectively.

"The PML-N is giving the impression that Nawaz is [going] to become the country's prime minister for the fourth time.

"Do [people] wish to see politics of hate continue?" the PPP leader said while questioning whether the people want to see the same person become the country's premier again.

His remarks come as his party has arguably emerged as a key rival of the PML-N in its stronghold of Punjab, and is striving to strengthen its position ahead of the polls for which the province has become a cauldron of political activities — owing to its share in the National Assembly as resulting significance in forming of the government in the centre.

With the Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) practically out of the election race, after the revocation of its election symbol "bat", the verbal banter between the former allies has increased significantly as they both strive to woo the voters and garner support to solidify their political standing in the all-important province.

A day earlier, PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari also said the party intends to dig in and stand its ground in Punjab.

Continuing with his address, Bilawal once again reiterated the PPP's motto promising to double the salaries, provide 300 units of free electricity and provide 3 million houses, key elements of the PPP's election manifesto, if they are voted into power on February 8.

"Not the promise that another party made," the PPP stalwart said while seemingly taking a jibe at the PTI government which ruled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for nearly 10 years.

Furthermore, he also promised to establish a women's university in DI Khan and to regularise the city's slums — giving its residents ownership rights.