PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, who had been widely anticipated to be Pakistan's next Prime Minister, has nominated his brother, former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to lead the next coalition government, according to party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb. She also stated that Nawaz's daughter and the party's senior vice president, Maryam Nawaz, has been nominated for the position of Punjab Chief Minister.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, told X that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, 74, has nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, 72, for prime minister and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, 50, for chief minister of Punjab province.
Following Thursday's elections, Pakistan's parliament is hung, with no party commanding a majority. Sharif and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's (PPP) parties have enough seats to form a coalition government. In other news, workers and supporters of Imran Khan's PTI have launched nationwide protests over alleged "rigging in general elections" on February 8.
Meanwhile, the White House has stated that Pakistan must respect the will of the people and ensure a transparent electoral process. During a daily news conference on Tuesday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that US President Joe Biden is aware of the situation.
Shehbaz Sharif's Role in PML-N
Shehbaz Sharif is a member of his brother's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the largest recognized party with 75 seats, while the PPP is second with 54. The two parties have enough support to form a simple majority in the 264-member legislature.
"We have decided that we will form a government together to take Pakistan out of the crisis," the co-chairman of the PPP, former President Asif Ali Zardari, told a news conference, seated beside Shehbaz Sharif and leaders of other political parties, as quoted in India Today.
In the past, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who is a leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and son of Zardari, had imposed certain conditions for supporting the Sharif-led coalition. He stated that they would help elect the Prime Minister but would not join the government. These conditions were not ideal for forming a stable and strong administration in the world's second-largest Muslim country. However, the alliance has brought an end to uncertainty over government formation that prevailed for five days after the February 8 vote, which delivered a split verdict and raised concerns of fresh instability.
Pakistan Election results
According to Aljazeera, five days after Pakistan's general election, two opposing parties, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have both announced plans to form a government, with the PTI allying with religious parties and the PPP forming a coalition with rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN).
The PTI leadership announced on Tuesday that its independent candidates would attempt to form a federal government as well as one in Punjab province by forming a coalition with the minority party Majlis-e-Wahdat-Muslimeen.
Independent candidates supported by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan won 101 seats, making them the largest group, but they cannot form a government on their own because they ran as individuals rather than parties, and they have ruled out alliances with the PML-N or the PPP. Bhutto Zardari claimed Khan's independents and PML-N outnumbered his party, but Khan had refused to work with the PPP.
According to Bhutto Zardari, the PPP does not want Pakistan to be in a perpetual economic crisis or to have a new election that leads to political instability.Bhutto Zardari wished to see his father, Asif Ali Zardari, re-elected President.
Founding Chairman Imran Khan's Message from jail through his family:
I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Pakistan for entrusting PTI with a resounding 2/3rd majority. It was heartening to see the massive turnout. The families voting together, including women and…— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 13, 2024
(This is a developing story)
(With inputs from agencies)
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