Nawaz Sharif Seeks Coalition Government After Election Setback in Pakistan
In a surprising turn of events, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced his intention to form a coalition government after his party faced setbacks in the recent parliamentary elections. Independent candidates backed by his rival, Imran Khan, were leading in the election results, prompting Sharif to change his stance on forming a coalition. Sharif’s brother and former premier, Shehbaz Sharif, will be meeting with leaders of other parties to invite them to join the coalition.
The election results showed candidates supported by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) leading with 98 seats, while Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party had 67 seats. However, with a third major party in the mix, no one could declare outright victory. Despite this, Sharif’s relatives and loyalists celebrated at his party headquarters, waving to the crowds below.
Khan, a former cricket star turned Islamist politician, was disqualified from running in the election due to criminal convictions that he claims were politically motivated. His party’s candidates were forced to run as independents after they were barred from using the party symbol, a cricket bat, on the ballots. Despite facing disadvantages such as imprisonment and restrictions on campaign activities, Khan’s party managed to secure a significant number of seats.
Observers had expected Sharif’s party to prevail in the elections and put him on track for a fourth term as prime minister. However, the unexpected success of Khan’s party has changed the political landscape. Sharif now acknowledges that a coalition is necessary to form a government and address the problems faced by Pakistan.
Sharif plans to approach the Pakistan People’s Party of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, as a coalition partner. The PPP has 51 seats. However, Pakistan’s deeply divided political climate may hinder the formation of a strong coalition that can effectively address the country’s challenges, including high inflation, energy outages, and militant attacks.
The recent elections have faced criticism from international bodies, including the U.S. State Department and the European Union. They have expressed concerns about restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as well as allegations of interference in the electoral process. The EU has called for a full investigation into reported election irregularities.
The election day itself was marred by sporadic violence and a nationwide cellphone service shutdown. Clashes between Khan supporters and police resulted in two deaths and several injuries. PTI supporters also protested against vote rigging in Peshawar city. The delay in releasing the election results was attributed to a lack of connectivity due to security precautions.
The circumstances of Sharif and Khan on election day represented a reversal of fortunes for the two men. Sharif returned to Pakistan after four years of self-imposed exile and had his convictions overturned, allowing him to seek a fourth term. Khan, on the other hand, faced imprisonment and restrictions on campaign activities. The success of Khan-backed candidates against the odds signifies a shift in Pakistan’s political landscape.
As Pakistan navigates its post-election period, it remains to be seen how the coalition government will address the country’s challenges and whether it can bring about meaningful change. The formation of a strong coalition that prioritizes the betterment of Pakistan is crucial in these uncertain times.