Lahore(National Times)- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday hailed the “outstanding victory” of the PML-N in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, urging the PPP to accept defeat.

In her televised address, CM Maryam said, “The PPP should have accepted its defeat by affirming the spirit of democracy, but I felt aggrieved by the kind of words used by PPP leaders.”

“The state does not decide election results; only the people make this decision,” she said in response to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s allegations.

She added that when the PPP secured a majority in Gilgit-Baltistan’s elections, the PML-N acknowledged it, congratulated it and offered it the opportunity to form the government.

“Now you are alleging PML-N of rigging; when you won the GB election, there was no rigging there, but as you have lost the AJK election badly, you are now levelling rigging allegations,” CM Maryam said.

The provincial chief executive further said that the PPP should have worked on its performance, built its narrative and presented a programme for the people. “Neither did you have the narrative, nor the performance, nor a programme for the people of AJK or any record of your governance.”

The Punjab chief minister added that the “continuity” the PPP received in Sindh could never be achieved by any other party. “Despite this, you had no project to show from Sindh; you could not tell [people about] your performance and could not give a roadmap of the future to the people of AJK.”

“If you want to get votes, you cannot cry before the people; the people are much more aware these days.”