- Zardari is the next president, Shehbaz is the premier; PPP avoids the federal cabinet
- PML-N wins the National Assembly speakership; PPP will have its deputy speaker
- PPP will have the Senate chairmanship; the N-League will provide the deputy chairmanship
ISLAMABAD: The PML-N and the PPP agreed to share power in order to create the next government after more than a week of negotiations. The PPP claimed an overwhelming majority in the lower house of parliament to secure the prime minister position.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said at a combine press conference at Zardari House in the federal capital at the early hours that the PPP and the PML-N have enough members to form a federal government, with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif being nominated as the party’s nominee for prime minister.
Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of the PPP, will also run jointly for president. The PPP leader stated that decisions had been taken regarding other highly sought-after positions, such as the speaker of the National Assembly and the chairman of the Senate, but that they will be announced at a later time.
The PPP head had hurried to PML-N leader Ishaq Dar’s house, where Shehbaz Sharif had previously been there, before the news conference. Following a half-hour meeting, they left for Zardari House, where they informed the press about the terms of the agreement.
Additional Positions, Governors
Insiders, however, informed Dawn that the PML-N will hold the NA speaker position in accordance with the agreement the two parties had made, and the PPP would not be joining the federal government.
They said that the PPP would win the Senate chairmanship, with Senator Yousaf Raza Gilani being the front-runner. The PPP will also win the governorships in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to sources, Sarfaraz Bugti “is so far” the front-runner for the chief ministership in Balochistan, which would be jointly formed by the PML-N and the PPP. The deputy chairmanship in the Senate will go to the PML-N, while the deputy speakership in the lower house will go to the PPP.
The Constitution’s Article 91(2) mandates that the National Assembly’s first session be called by February 29. Following the taking of oath, members will choose the speaker and deputy speaker by secret ballot on the first day of the NA session. The timetable for the PM election will then be announced by the new speaker. The PM must receive 169 votes in the 336-member parliament to be elected.
The current president is holding an extended term until the election of his successor, despite the fact that his five-year tenure ended in September of last year. The Senate elections, which are scheduled for the first week of March, and the conclusion of the government creation process in the federal government and the provinces will precede the president’s election.
Press conference at midnight
Mr. Bhutto-Zardari remarked, “We hope that the forthcoming [coalition] governance able to conquer the external and internal challenges faced by the country.” He also mentioned that the presidential election would take place following the prime minister’s election. He continued, “We appreciate that the PML-N is supporting PPP nominee Asif Ali Zardari.
Shehbaz Sharif, the president of the PML-N, stated during the news conference that although the PTI had been asked to form the government in the Center, they had not been able to get the necessary 169 votes. He asserted that if the PTI chose to establish a government, the PML-N and its allies were prepared to take seats on the opposition benches.
The leader of the PML-N claims that everyone will accompany them in guiding the nation out of challenges. The nation was not yet out of the woods, notwithstanding the PML-N leader’s assertion that the agreement was a good result.
Ministers in the federal cabinet were not requested by the PPP, according to Mr. Sharif. Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP leader, stated that the party wished to reassure the people that this coalition will steer the nation away from the difficulties. When asked about the 16-month PDM government’s performance and the PPP’s apparent criticism in this context, the PML-N president responded that they were in this position due of the “success of the PDM set-up.”
Path to the government of Punjab
Although the Punjab government was not mentioned at the press conference, there are persistent rumors that the PPP is interested in holding ministries in the provincial cabinet. This has reportedly become a point of contention in the negotiations.
He declared, “Even if we offer the PPP these desired positions today, it will still refuse to be part of the coalition led by the PML-N in the Center.”
But he voiced concerns about what would happen to the PML-N if the PPP teamed up with the PTI to file a no-trust resolution against the incoming prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif. The PML-N was to blame for the agreement’s postponement, PPP president Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said reporters earlier in the day outside the Supreme Court.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
