- The development comes after days of negotiations between two parties.
- The PPP chief says both the parties are now in a position to form the government at the Centre.
- Shehbaz says his party would vote for Zardari in the presidential elections.
After days of debate and discussion, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday night forged an agreement to form a coalition government at the Centre, as no party won a simple majority in the February elections. 8 general elections.
After much uncertainty following the election, top leaders from both major parties confirmed that they would once again join forces to form the government “in the best interests of the nation.”
“The Pakistan People's Party and the Nawaz Muslim League now have full numbers and we are in a position to form the next government,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said at a news conference in Islamabad alongside top leaders of the both parties.
No political party won a simple majority in the February 8 election, forcing parties to unite in their bid for power, but the delay in an agreement had raised eyebrows.
While parties were mulling over government formation, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had joined hands with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to ensure it got the required numbers through reserved assembly seats.
However, the PPP chief told reporters that the SIC did not have enough members to form the next government at the Centre.
The former foreign minister said Shehbaz would be the next prime minister and Zardari would be the joint candidate of both parties for the presidential post.
He added that both parties would form the next government to lead the country out of the current crisis and expressed hope that they could achieve this.
Speaking on the occasion, PML-N's Shehbaz said he had asked the PTI-backed winning candidates to prove their majority and form the government, but they did not have sufficient numbers.
“We have enough numbers to form the next government,” he added. The PML-N stalwart also thanked Bilawal and Zardari for their cooperation. Shehbaz said both parties decided that Zardari would be fielded as a joint candidate for the post of president.
Responding to a question on whether the PPP would get any portfolio, Shehbaz said the Bilawal-led party has not demanded any ministry since day one.
“Parliaments take place between two parties and problems are resolved through [mutual consultation]. It does not mean that we accept their demands or they accept ours; They have their points of view, but reaching a middle ground is true political success,” he stated.
The former prime minister added that decisions on the “offices” would be mutually taken later under the guidance of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and top PPP leaders.
More to continue…
