In Order To Form Government, PML-N And PPP Establish “First Formal Contact”
February 12, 2024 / By Zunair Tahir / Pakistan News
Following the February 8 election, in which no political party was able to gain a simple majority, political scheming has reached its pinnacle. With the support of their allies, the PML-N and PPP have formally begun negotiations to establish a government in the center.
In light of the PPP conversation, PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of the JUI-F, to reassure him about the PPP meeting and to ask for his assistance in forming the federal government. On Wednesday, Maulana Fazl promised to return to the PML-N.
- According to insiders, PML-N offers PPP “president, Senate chairman, and NA speaker” positions.
- PPP Central Executive Committee meets today; N-League and PML-Q are set to have a meeting. Shehbaz gives Fazl confidence on PPP talks and asks for JUI-F support.
Similarly, a meeting with the MQM was also conducted in Lahore, while today (Monday) in Islamabad is the scheduled meeting with the PML-Q, which is led by Shujaat Hussain.
The PTI-backed independent candidates are dominating in the National Assembly polls, with at least 93 seats, at the moment of this flurry of political activity. There are 75 seats for PML-N and 54 seats for PPP.
A group led by Shehbaz Sharif met Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at Bilawal House in Lahore on Sunday as they formalized their relationship. They talked for almost an hour. The only statement released on the gathering described it as “constructive” but did not present a detailed strategy.
“The assessment of Pakistan’s overall situation, deliberations on future political strategies, and the exchange of recommendations aimed at promoting stability and progress across the board” were among the topics covered in the proclamation.
According to insiders who spoke to Dawn, the PML-N promised the PPP the desired positions of president, speaker of the National Assembly, and chairman of the Senate in exchange for the PDM coalition government’s desire to retain its position as prime minister. When the PPP leaders met today in Islamabad as planned, they announced that they would confer with the central executive committee.
The statement stated that the discussion took place in a friendly atmosphere and reaffirmed the commitment to prioritizing the interests and welfare of the country above everything else. “The leaders of the two parties held meaningful conversations about the current political climate and the necessity of working together for the benefit of the nation.”
According to the statement, the leaders demonstrated a spirit of consensus-building by recognizing the significance of creating a framework for “sustained political cooperation” between the PML-N and PPP, setting the foundation for a more powerful and cohesive response to the problems confronting the country.
In order to guide the nation away from political instability and toward prosperity and resilience, all parties reaffirmed their commitment to this goal. It stated that the leaders emphasized their steadfast commitment to achieving the people’s goals and making sure their opinions are heard and taken into consideration, stressing the apparently mandated decision they received from the “majority of the people.”
Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Saad Rafique, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marrriyum Aurangzeb, and Shaza Fatima made up the PML-N delegation.
Furthermore, reports reported that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who had been in Lahore the day before, had hurried to Islamabad in the morning to see US Ambassador Donald Blome and “discuss with him federal government’s formation and the Feb. 8 election process.” Following his return from Islamabad, the PPP chairman met with Asif Zardari for an hour at the airport before heading to Bilawal House.
On Sunday night, Nawaz Sharif and PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujat were scheduled to meet in Lahore. It was, however, rescheduled for Monday in Islamabad. Three NA spots are now held by the Q-League. A team from the MQM, which has 17 NA seats, also paid a visit to the Lahore leadership of the PML-N and promised to assist in “steering the country out of crisis.”
