ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif, the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Asif Ali Zardari, the Co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), are poised to assume the roles of Prime Minister and President, respectively, as the two allies prepare to establish the next government.
After extensive discussions and amidst prevailing uncertainty, senior figures from both parties have confirmed their intention to once again collaborate in forming the government “in the best interests of the nation.”
While specific details were not disclosed by the politicians, insider sources revealed to a Private TV channel that the Senate chairman and Punjab governor would be from PPP, while the governors of Sindh and Balochistan and the Speaker of the National Assembly would be from the PML-N.
During a late-night press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, flanked by top leaders from both parties, stated, “The Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz now possess the necessary numbers, and we are in a position to establish the next government.”
Following the elections on February 8, no single political party attained a simple majority, prompting parties to form alliances in their pursuit of power. However, the delay in reaching an agreement had raised concerns.
Post-election, independent candidates backed by the PTI held the highest number of seats in the National Assembly (92), followed by the PML-N (79) and the PPP (54).
While negotiations for government formation were ongoing, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had forged an alliance with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to secure the necessary numbers through reserved seats in the assemblies.
Nevertheless, the PPP leader informed reporters that the SIC lacked sufficient numbers to establish the next government at the federal level.
Bilawal announced that Shehbaz would assume the role of Prime Minister, while Zardari would be the joint candidate for the presidency, representing both parties.
He expressed confidence that both parties, through forming the next government, would address the country’s ongoing crises and deliver effective governance.
Responding to inquiries about the nomination of PML-N leader Ishaq Dar for Senate chairman, Bilawal stated that decisions were made during meetings but would be individually announced by each party.
“We have a track record of swiftly announcing coalitions and making decisions with consensus compared to previous tenures,” he remarked.
Zardari emphasized their commitment to Pakistan’s prosperity for future generations, stating, “Our endeavor is to ensure Pakistan’s success for the generations to come.”
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
