Pakistan’s Major Political Parties Form Coalition Government After Inconclusive Elections
In a surprising turn of events, two of Pakistan’s major political parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have announced that they will form a coalition government following last week’s inconclusive elections. This decision means that the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), will not be in power, despite independent candidates affiliated with it gaining the most votes.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday, where former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif from the PMLN and former President Asif Ali Zardari from the PPP, along with representatives from four other parties, declared their intention to work together in forming a government. The PMLN also revealed that Shahbaz Sharif would be their candidate for prime minister, while the PPP’s chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari confirmed that his party would support the PMLN candidate.
In the recent elections, the PPP secured 54 seats, placing them third behind independent candidates associated with Imran Khan’s PTI, which won 102 seats, and the PMLN, led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which won 73 seats. However, none of these parties obtained enough seats to secure a majority in parliament and form a government independently.
Imran Khan, who is currently in jail and was disqualified from running in the election, announced separately on Tuesday that independent candidates affiliated with his party would join forces with the lesser-known Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen party (MWM), which only won one seat in parliament. Khan also ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition with either the PPP or the PMLN.
Khan’s PTI party has alleged widespread rigging in the election and released a statement warning against the formation of a government based on stolen votes, claiming it would be detrimental to the country’s economy. However, the coalition of the PMLN and the PPP seems determined to move forward and put their differences aside for the sake of the nation.
Asif Ali Zardari, speaking at the press conference, explained the reasoning behind the coalition formation, stating that despite having contested elections against each other, it is not necessary to fight forever. Shahbaz Sharif also adopted a conciliatory tone, emphasizing the need to eliminate mutual differences and work together for the betterment of the nation.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari further revealed that the PPP would establish a committee to deliberate on important issues such as the national budget, the election of the prime minister, and significant legislation. Additionally, the party intends to field its candidates for positions such as the National Assembly speaker, chairman of the Senate, and president.
According to Pakistani law, parliament must convene within 21 days after an election to swear in lawmakers and elect a new prime minister. The formation of this coalition government sets the stage for a new era in Pakistani politics, as these major parties join forces to navigate the challenges ahead and work towards a prosperous future for the country.