- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari convenes party’s CEC meeting to discuss ‘govt formation’ today
- MQM-P convener denies having a discussion on government formation after meeting Nawaz Sharif
ISLAMABAD: The political wheeling and dealing intensified as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly offered a ‘lucrative package’ to the PPP in a bid to secure support for the formation of governments in the centre and Punjab.
According to sources privy to the development, the PML-N has offered it “rival in the electoral arena” – the PPP – Presidency, National Assembly (NA) speakership, and Senate chairmanship to secure its support for the formation of governments in the centre and Punjab.
In this regard, a meeting was held between the delegations of both the parties in Lahore to finalise a “power-sharing formula” as the PML-N wants to get the premiership and the slot of Punjab Chief Minister.
According to the leadership of both the parties, it is a desperate situation for both of them as according to the ECP’s final results, no party has secured even a simple majority and the PTI-backed independent candidates are leading the race with 101 seats in the National Assembly.
According to the news channel’s report, PML-N proposed three key constitutional positions to the PPP in exchange for its support in both the centre and Punjab. The PPP was offered the positions of president, speaker of the National Assembly, and chairman of the Senate. Additionally, PML-N agreed to concede the Balochistan Chief Ministership to the PPP.
Furthermore, the PML-N also reportedly extended an offer to the PPP for the position of deputy chief minister or senior minister in Punjab.
Both parties have agreed to continue negotiations after discussing the matter in their respective Central Executive Committee (CEC) meetings.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday announced the complete and final results of the general election 2024 held on February 8.
According to a press statement issued by the ECP, the election results announced for the National Assembly (NA), or the lower house of the parliament, independent candidates secured 101 seats, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif secured 75 seats, and the Pakistan People Party Parliamentarians (PPP) of former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari got 54 seats.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan won 17 seats, and the Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-F) got 4 seats in the country’s national assembly. Pakistan Muslim League got three, Balochistan National Party and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party got two seats each, while Pakistan Muslim League (Zia), Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan, Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party Pakistan (PkMAP), Balochistan Awami Party, the National Party and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party secured one seat each.
Leaders from a number of political parties are holding meetings, apparently in the hope of gathering sufficient numbers to form governments in the Centre and the four provinces. A day earlier, Nawaz Sharif, in a public speech, invited all the political parties to sit together and form a government to pull Pakistan out of the crisis.
MQM, PML-N leaders agree to work together
Earlier in the day, a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan called on the leadership of Muslim League-N at Jati Umra here on Sunday.
An important political discussion was held between Pakistan Muslim League (N) supremo Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and MQM leadership. The party president Shahbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and other PML-N leaders also participated in the meeting.
The MQM delegation was led by Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Governor Sindh Kamran Tesuri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal were included in the delegation. The meeting discussed the future political situation.
According to the party sources, after the meeting between the delegation of Muslim League-N and MQM, the guest delegation has gone back, while the meeting between the two delegations lasted for 50 minutes.
During the meeting, PML-N and MQM decided to form a joint committee for the consultative process of government formation. The representative committee of both parties will contact other parliamentary parties. Both parties also agreed to contact other parties.
On this occasion, a consultation was also held regarding the newly-elected members of the provincial assembly from Sindh.
Earlier, on their arrival in Raiwand, Pakistan Muslim League (N) supremo Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President Shehbaz Sharif along with the party leaders welcomed the MQM leaders.
The high-level talks were aimed at laying focus on government formation. Earlier on their arrival at Raiwand, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif along with other party leaders welcomed the MQM senior leaders.
After the general elections 2024 failed to produce a clear winner, political manoeuvring has hit top gear as political parties try to cobble together a coalition government in order to rule with prime focus on wooing independent candidates.
MQM-P denies demand of Sindh governorship
Meanwhile, MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui denied the demand of Sindh governorship during the party’s meeting with the PML-N leadership.
Speaking to media representatives, the MQM-P convener said that matters related to the formation of the government were not discussed in the meeting.
Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the talks in the meeting were largely related to public issues and the recently concluded General Elections 2024
“There was no discussion on government formation. We did not demand Sindh governorship or anything else,” the MQM-P convener reiterated.
Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui added that the issues being faced by the people of Pakistan were discussed in the meeting.
The MQM-P convener said that all the reports regarding the demand for the Sindh governorship are baseless. “We neither placed any demand before the PML-N nor made any agreement.
PPP’s CEC to discuss formation of govt
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has convened a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Monday (today).
According to a press release issued by the party secretariat, Bilawal Bhutto has instructed all members of the CEC and senior party leaders to reach in Islamabad for the meeting.
The agenda will include discussions on the overall political situation in the country and the formation of the government following the recent general elections.
Bilawal Bhutto is scheduled to hold meetings with other political leaders during his visit to the Federal capital.
