Shehbaz Sharif set to be PM as PML-N, PPP agree to form govt

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reached an agreement to form a coalition government after no party secured a simple majority in the general election.

The top leaders from both parties confirmed held a meeting and in a late night announcement said that they were joining forces to form the government “in the nation’s best interest”.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz now have complete numbers and we are in the position to form the next government,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said.

Bilawal said Shehbaz Sharif would be the next prime minister and Asif Ali Zardari would be the joint candidate for both parties for the president’s slot.

He added that both parties would form the next government to pull the country out of the ongoing crises and expressed hope that they would be able to deliver.

The PTI-backed independent candidates hold the most National Assembly seats (92) followed by the PML-N (79) and the PPP (54). The PTI had allied with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to ensure it gets the required numbers through reserved seats in the assemblies.

Regarding the nomination of PML-N leader Ishaq Dar as Senate chairman, Bilawal said decisions were taken in the meetings but would be announced separately by each party.

“If we look at the past, we have announced the coalition and made decisions with consensus very quickly compared to previous tenures,” he continued.

Shehbaz said that he had asked the PTI-backed winning candidates to prove their majority and form the government, but they didn’t have sufficient numbers.

“We have sufficient numbers to form the next government,” he added. He said that both parties decided that Zardari would be the joint candidate for the post of president.

Shehbaz said that the PPP hasn’t demanded any ministry from the first day. He said would be made mutually later under the guidance of Nawaz Sharif and the PPP’s top leadership.

Shehbaz also thanked the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, who will be part of the next government.

He vowed the upcoming coalition government would restore the country’s economy and fight against the menace of terrorism. He said the alliance would bring economic progress and development to the country.