Suspense ends in Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif will be the new Prime Minister, Maryam elected CM of Punjab. Unique
Last updated: February 14, 2024, 00:08 IST
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shehbaz Sharif (right) and daughter Maryam Nawaz greeting their supporters after preliminary results of the country’s parliamentary election in Lahore, Pakistan. (AP photo)
Sources close to PML-N said that Nawaz Sharif is not interested in becoming Prime Minister for the fourth time under the current circumstances
After hectic talks following a hung mandate in the national elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday decided to form a coalition government under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif.
Sources close to Nawaz Sharif told cnn-news18 That Shahbaz will be the new Prime Minister of Pakistan while Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam will be the Chief Minister of Punjab province.
PPP will support the government from outside. Asif Ali Zardari is likely to become President and his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will pursue politics in the National Assembly.
Sources close to PML-N said that Nawaz Sharif is not interested in becoming prime minister for the fourth time under the current circumstances.
The establishment wants a comfortable government led by Shehbaz with Asif’s support to run economic programs and bring credit into the country. Asif wants the presidency for himself for the second time.
The establishment is also not comfortable under a Nawaz-led government due to Nawaz’s anti-army stance. The Army feels that Shahbaz will be a great chief executive delivering the desired results for the government.
Nawaz Sharif on Monday appointed Shehbaz to hold talks with other political parties to form the government.
Asif and Shehbaz are likely to meet in Lahore tonight for discussions and the establishment will be informed about their meeting.
Shehbaz, 72, had previously led the government after Imran Khan was ousted from power in April 2022.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that independent candidates, most of whom are supported by PTI, secured 101 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54. Seats were found. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) got 17 seats.
To form the government, a party must win 133 of the 265 seats contested in the 266-member National Assembly. Other parties got 17 seats while the result of one seat was withheld.