After days of prolonged negotiations, senior representatives from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have officially declared the formation of a new coalition government through a joint press conference.
During the press conference held late on Tuesday night, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Chairman of the PPP, made the significant announcement that Shehbaz Sharif, the President of the PML-N, aged 72, is poised to resume the role of Prime Minister once again. Simultaneously, it was revealed that Asif Zardari, the co-chairman of the PPP, aged 68, is slated to reassume the position of the country's President.
"The PPP and PML-N have successfully garnered the necessary support, and as a result, we are now positioned to establish the government," Bilawal informed the assembled reporters.
He further remarked that the candidates backed by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) failed to secure a simple majority in Parliament for forming the government at the federal level.
Expressing optimism regarding the positive market response to the news of the political alliance with the PML-N to form a coalition government, Bilawal emphasized the significance of this development, particularly given the backdrop of a hung Parliament following the elections held on February 8.
In his remarks, Shehbaz Sharif underscored the fact that his PML-N, in collaboration with the PPP, now possesses the "requisite numbers" to establish the next government, expressing gratitude to the leadership of both parties for the successful outcome of the negotiations.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, the former Prime Minister highlighted the importance of unity between the two parties, underscoring their collective readiness to tackle the obstacles together, as reported by The Express Tribune.
With the PML-N securing 75 seats and the PPP coming in third with 54 seats, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has also pledged its support, contributing 17 seats to the coalition.
To attain a parliamentary majority, a party must secure at least 133 out of the 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament.
Meanwhile, in a social media post, the PTI, led by 71-year-old Khan, criticized the newly formed alliance between the PPP and the PML-N as 'PDM 2.0', labeling them as 'Mandate Thieves'.
The coalition announcement comes following inconclusive talks on Monday, with both parties failing to reach a consensus on a power-sharing arrangement to establish a coalition government.
Reflecting on the challenges ahead, Shehbaz Sharif remarked that the journey for the new government will be arduous, and fraught with obstacles, but stressed that the coalition alliance is prepared to confront them collectively, as reported by Dawn newspaper.
Meanwhile, PPP co-chairperson Zardari emphasized that the political alliance's endeavor to form the next government is driven by a commitment to the country's welfare and the betterment of future generations.
The February 8 general elections have been mired in controversy, with numerous serious allegations of widespread electoral misconduct aimed at altering the outcomes. Imran Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, revealed that the PTI chief has described the February 8 elections as the "mother of all rigging, " denouncing what he perceives as stealing the people's mandate post-election. Aleema Khan conveyed this information after meeting with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on Tuesday, further noting his condemnation of the suspension of internet services, which he contends was utilized to obscure the genuine election results.
