— Nawaz to meet Zardari, Bilawal to cut a deal for coalition government
— Shehbaz to meet Maulana Fazl, Khalid Maqbool to finalise dialogue
LAHORE: Former prime minister and chief of PML-N, Nawaz Sharif late Friday addressed his party workers and vowed to form unity government with allies and likeminded parties after PML-N fell short of simple majority in National Assembly.
Sources privy to fast taking developments told Pakistan Today that Nawaz Sharif phoned PPPP President Asif Zardari and invited him to hold a meeting so as formation of a unity government could be discussed. He also invited Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who would fly to Lahore later in the night for the crucial meeting as Asif Zardari is already in Islamabad to finalise the deal.
Sources said that some other politicians may be joined in by once PML-N and PPP leadership finalise details of the future government. The source said that Shehbaz Sharif would also meet Maulana Fazlur Rehman and MQM chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to help form a coalition government.
“Things would be finalised over the weekend,” the source added, requesting not to named.
Nawaz Sharif claims victory in address to party workers
In a candid address to his supporters outside his Model Town residence in Lahore, former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif conceded that his party, despite emerging as the ‘single-largest party’ in Thursday’s general elections, does not have the numbers to form a government on its own at the Centre.
“We respect the mandate of all parties and independent candidates,” Nawaz stated, acknowledging the reality of the election results. Urging unity in the face of a fragmented political landscape, he called upon his former coalition partners to come together and establish a ‘unity government’ for the benefit of Pakistan.
“I have tasked Shehbaz Sharif to make a move on this tonight. I have asked him to meet Asif Ali Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui,” Nawaz Sharif revealed, highlighting his proactive approach to kick-start the formation of a coalition government.
Nawaz claims PML-N has emerged as single-largest party in polls
Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has said that his party has emerged as the ‘single-largest party’ after Thursday’s general elections.
“We respect the mandate of all parties and independent candidates,” Nawaz said during an address in Lahore on Friday.
Hinting at a future ‘unity government’, Nawaz said that it is the duty of all parties to form a government together and take Pakistan out of current crisis.
“Not just my or Ishaq Dar’s responsibility… It is everyone’s Pakistan. If we all work together only then Pakistan will get out of this crisis,” he added.
The three-time PM said that Pakistan needed at least 10 years of stability. “Those who are in mood of confrontation, I want to tell them we don’t want any fight… Pakistan cannot afford it. We all must sit together and sort issues out and take Pakistan to 21st century but due to our mistake we could not do that earlier.”
Conceding that PML-N does not have the numbers to form a government on its own at the Centre, he urged his former coalition partners to sit together and form a unity government.
“I have tasked Shehbaz Sharif to make a move on this tonight. I have asked him to meet Asif Ali Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui,” he added.
He said that the current situation of Pakistan does not allow any further crises, adding that the first meeting to form a coalition will be held tonight and Shehbaz Sharif and other party members will participate in it.
PML-N supremo said that not only at the Centre, his party had also taken a majority vote in Punjab as well. “We will serve at the Centre as well as in Punjab,” he added.
Nawaz Sharif said that his government would want good relations with the entire world, in particular Pakistan’s immediate neighbours.
Party Position on Friday night
The results of 220 National Assembly constituencies have been unveiled, with a diverse range of victories across various political spectrums.
According to unconfirmed results, 98 PTI-backed independent hopefuls clinched triumph, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured victories in 72 NA seats.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged victorious in 52 seats whereas the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) bagged eight NA seats.
Other parties also secured wins, with the IPP, JUI-F and PML-Q winning two seats each.
