ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has reacted cautiously to the recent interview of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, describing his comments with regard to former premier Nawaz Sharif as his "personal opinion".

In reaction to Bilawal's remarks about Nawaz Sharif's criticism on the military leadership, the PML-N spokesperson, Marriyum Aurangzeb, asserted that "whatever Nawaz Sharif had stated in his address to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Gujranwala was based on facts".

In a recent interview with an international media, which "disappointed" many in the PML-N, the PPP chairman had stated he was "shocked" to hear Nawaz Sharif's speech during the PDM's first rally in Gujranwala on October 16th.

Bilawal was also of the opinion that the opposition parties in its All Parties Conference (APC) held on September 20, 2020, it was agreed that they would not directly single out any institution, but instead would refer to them as "establishment".

However, he added: "Nawaz Sharif can speak in his own manner that is his right. I will speak in my own manner...As far as naming is concerned, I think it is certain that Mian Sahib would not have named anyone without proof and such allegations should be based on evidence."

In a statement, Nawaz Sharif's spokesperson Mohammad Zubair stated that the "PML-N respects Bilawal as he was a part of the opposition alliance".

"This is Bilawal's personal opinion. Nawaz Sharif has served as the country's premier and there was the party's government even after his ouster. What he [Nawaz] had said at Gujranwala rally comes from the experience of the PML-N government," Nawaz's spokesperson said.

Further, defending Nawaz Sharif's narrative, Zubair said that it was important to inform the people about "what happened" to ensure civilian supremacy, so that "what happened" in the past was not repeated in the future.

"This is obvious that it did not happen with the PPP. What Nawaz Sharif had said was based on facts," he insisted.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020