Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Bilawal Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have agreed to form a coalition government in the Centre and Punjab.
The development follows PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif's meeting with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, where he invited them to collaborate for Pakistan's progress, as reported by Geo News.
Shehbaz discussed future government formation with Zardari, conveying PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif's message. Shehbaz urged the two PPP leaders to engage with PML-N leadership for political and economic stability in Pakistan, as per party sources cited by Geo News.
The divisive Pakistan elections have not yielded a clear victor, as the tardy vote-counting process nears completion.
Elections were held for 265 seats in the national assembly, with a political party requiring 133 seats for a simple majority.
Imran Khan is in jail, and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been barred from the polls. Independents, mainly backed by Imran Khan, have won the most seats - 91 out of the 250 counted by 12.40 pm (bd time) - while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured 71 seats, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has won 53.
Nevertheless, Zardari and Shehbaz have agreed to form a government in Punjab and at the center. Both parties will present their views in the next meeting and finalize all matters regarding the power-sharing formula through mutual consultation. The meeting lasted 45 minutes.
Nawaz Sharif on Friday invited all political parties to form a coalition government to salvage the country.
“We respect the mandate of other parties, whether they are a party or independent individuals. We invite them to come and collaborate with us to ameliorate Pakistan's condition, as our agenda is a prosperous Pakistan,” he added.
Nawaz reiterated that PML-N had secured the mandate and knew how to navigate the country out of economic turmoil and rehabilitate the economy.