Monday’s meeting between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party on government formation in Pakistan also ended without a decision. It was reported that no decision was made in the last meeting on Tuesday. There has been speculation that talks and bargaining between the two parties may continue until the constitutional deadline before the start of the National Assembly session on February 29. Sources in both parties tell Dawn that talks on government formation may be prolonged due to PPP’s reluctance. PPP is under a lot of pressure from various parties including its own party to join the government. Khabar Dawn, Express Tribune and Geo News.
PTI-backed independent candidates won the highest number of 93 seats in Pakistan’s National Assembly elections held on February 8. Apart from this, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N won 75 seats and Bilawal’s PPP won 54 seats. The rest of the seats were won by other parties and independent candidates. In the election, no party got the necessary seats to form the government.
PTI has made it clear that it will not form an alliance with PML-N or PPP to form the government. At least 169 seats are needed to form the government out of the total 336 seats in the National Assembly. However, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira told a private television that there are still 8 to 9 days left for the sitting of the National Assembly. The Prime Minister will be elected on March 2 or 3. So there is still enough time for both sides to reach a reasonable conclusion. Kaira said PPP will join the central government, there was no such agenda in any meeting. PPP is still firm on this decision, they will not ask PML-NK for any ministry. He also said, ‘We are only sitting to discuss our common issues, so that there is no deadlock in the formation of the future government and its work.’
Responding to a question whether Asif Ali Zardari is running for the post of president and whether PML-N is also fielding a candidate for the same post, Kaira said that alliances usually do not field candidates against each other.
Power-sharing arrangements: Sources told Dawn that some PPP leaders are supporting power-sharing with the PML-N and getting some ministries in the central government in return for supporting the formation of the new government. However, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been asked to oppose power sharing with the PML-N. It is believed that only the PPP has agreed to provide the necessary support to form the government.
A day ago, the PPP chief rejected the idea of power sharing, saying he was not interested in such a deal. He said, ‘I don’t want to be that kind of prime minister.’
According to Kyra, Monday’s meeting did not discuss the power-sharing process. He said, ‘We have only discussed the formation of the future government and the activities of that government so that there is no deadlock.’
Meanwhile, PPP is seeking power sharing in the government of Punjab province. PML-N is in a very advantageous position to form the government there. Besides, PPP is seeking the post of Speaker of National Assembly, President of Pakistan and Senate Chairman.
