PML-N wants coveted prime minister's post while Asif Zardari seeks top job for son Bilawal Bhutto, sources say
- The same power sharing formula established in Balochistan in 2013.
- Both sides agreed in principle to cooperate to achieve political stability.
- Nawaz and Fazl discuss the formation of the government and the political situation over the phone.
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have deliberated on the possibility of appointing prime ministers of their parties for half of a five-year term according to a formula of shared power. Geographic news has learned.
The idea of appointing a mid-term prime minister was discussed during their first meeting on Sunday after the February 8 elections as part of their efforts to form a coalition government in the center and provinces, according to sources familiar with the matter. of the matter.
The same power-sharing formula was chalked out by the PML-N and the National Party (NP) in Balochistan in 2013, when two chief ministers of the two parties held office for half of the five-year term.
At Sunday's meeting at Bilawal House in Lahore, the two sides agreed in principle to cooperate for the political stability of the country after the general elections.
The meeting was attended by PPP Parliamentary Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari and former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of the PML-N.
According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, in which the commitment to put the interest and well-being of the nation before everything else was expressed.
Leaders of both parties engaged in substantive discussions on the prevailing political landscape and the imperative of collaborative efforts for the betterment of the country.
The PML-N delegation included Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanvir, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Sheza Fatima.
The joint statement said that the key points of the discussion were assessment of the overall situation in Pakistan, deliberations on future political strategies and exchange of recommendations aimed at promoting stability and progress in all fields.
Both sides affirmed their dedication to moving Pakistan away from political instability and onto a path of prosperity and resilience. The statement said that the majority of the country had given a mandate to the two parties and that they would not let them down.
The leaders of the two parties underlined their unwavering commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the people and ensuring that their voices are heard and addressed.
Inside story
According to the internal story of the meeting, the PML-N officially offered the PPP to ally themselves to form a coalition government.
The PML-N leadership also informed the PPP of its contacts with independent legislators and the MQM-Pakistan, the informants added.
The PML-N leadership demanded that he retain the coveted prime minister's post, while former president Asif Zardari maintained that the PPP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) had already nominated Bilawal for the prime minister's post.
After which, the leaders of the two parties explored the possibility of appointing their parties' prime minister for the middle of the five-year term, sources said.
They said the major parties have agreed to form coalition governments at the Centre, Punjab and Balochistan, sources said.
They have raised the proposal of designing a five-year roadmap in light of the Charter of Democracy that both signed in 2006.
“The PPP will present power-sharing proposals at the CEC meeting today,” the sources added.
PML-N and MQM-P agree to political cooperation
The meeting came hours after the leaders of the PML-N and the MQM-P agreed on political cooperation for the formation of future governments.
PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif and MQM-P's Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui led their party's delegations.
The PMLN delegation included Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Rana Mashhood, while the MQM delegation included Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori. Dr. Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal.
According to PMLN spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leaders agreed in principle to work together for the benefit of the country and the nation and in this regard, major issues were resolved between the two parties.
He said that during the hour-long meeting there was a detailed consultation on the situation and suggestions were exchanged. They confided in each other about the general political situation and developments so far.
Earlier, upon their arrival at Jati Umra, Nawaz Sharif and PMLN president Shehbaz Sharif along with party leaders welcomed the MQM leaders.
However, soon after ending the meeting, MQMP coordinator Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that no talks on cooperation for government formation had been held at the Centre.
He also rejected reports that the party had demanded Sindh governorship in return for its support to the PMLN in forming the next federal government.
Meanwhile, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif telephoned JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and discussed the political situation in the context of efforts to form a coalition government.
Sources said they exchanged views on the formation of the coalition government at the center and the provinces.
