Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ After days of intense negotiations, senior leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have announced the conclusion of an agreement to establish a new coalition government in Pakistan. In a joint press conference held late Tuesday night, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari disclosed that Shehbaz Sharif, President of PML-N at 72 years old, is poised to reassume the role of Prime Minister, while Asif Zardari, PPP co-chairman at 68 years old, is set to return as the country’s President.
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Bilawal informed reporters that the PPP and PML-N have secured the necessary numbers and are now in a position to form a government. He noted that candidates supported by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) failed to secure a simple majority in Parliament for forming the government at the center. Bilawal expressed hope that news of the political coalition with PML-N to establish a coalition government would elicit a positive market response, particularly as the financially strained country grappled with a hung Parliament following the February 8 elections. Further, independent candidates, predominantly supported by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, secured victory in 93 National Assembly seats.
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During the press conference, Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that PML-N now possesses the required numbers alongside the PPP to form the next government, expressing gratitude to the leadership of both parties for the successful conclusion of discussions. The former prime minister underscored the unity between the two parties, highlighting their readiness to establish the government at the center. The PML-N secured 75 seats, while PPP secured 54 seats. Further, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has also pledged support for the alliance with its 17 seats. To establish a government, a party must secure 133 out of the 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament.
In the meantime, Imran Khan’s PTI criticized the newly formed PPP and PML-N alliance as ‘PDM 2.0’, labeling it “#MandateThieves.” The announcement of the alliance followed inconclusive talks between the top leaders of both parties on Monday regarding a power-sharing formula for the coalition government. Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, who served from 2022 to 2023, acknowledged that the journey ahead for the new government would be challenging, but stressed that the coalition alliance would confront obstacles together.
PPP co-chairperson Zardari, who served as president from 2008 to 2013, emphasized that the political alliance’s struggle to form the next government is for the betterment of the country and future generations. The February 8 general elections have been contentious, with numerous allegations of widespread rigging aimed at altering the results. Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, stated that the PTI chief referred to the February 8 elections as the “mother of all rigging.” Aleema met with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, informing reporters that the people’s mandate had been stolen after the elections. She also condemned the suspension of internet services, which she claimed was used to conceal the true results.
