ISLAMABAD: Following several days of negotiations, the two main political parties eventually reached a consensus on a power-sharing arrangement that would see Asif Ali Zardari run for president and Shehbaz Sharif nominate for the PM position.
In the midst of rumors of blackmail among the former coalition partners, the agreement was finalized on Tuesday between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Following a hung national assembly following the elections on February 8, days of uncertainty and talks were brought to an end by the agreement between Bhutto Zardari’s PPP and the PML-N, led by three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
At a late-night press conference in the nation’s capital, the PPP chairperson announced the deal.
Sitting next to Bilawal, Shehbaz Sharif asserted that the two parties have the necessary numbers and the backing of smaller parties to form the government.
With 79 seats, PML-N is the largest party, followed by PPP with 54. They hold a solid majority of 336 seats in the assembly, along with four smaller parties.
The 241 million-person country of Pakistan is facing a number of challenges, including an increasing threat from terrorist violence, poor development and record inflation, and an economic crisis that calls for a stable government with the power to make difficult decisions. This has made the delay in forming a government concerning.
Power-sharing formula
Sources claim that the PPP will receive important constitutional positions, including the presidency, but will never serve in Shehbaz Sharif’s administration.
Additionally, the party would not accept a position in the government for Punjab. What will PPP get?
Presidency
Senate chairman
Punjab governor
KP governor
Balochistan chief minister
Deputy speaker National Assembly
In contrast, the PPP will assist the PML-N in creating governments in Punjab and the Central Region. Additionally, Nawaz Sharif’s party will support the PPP’s candidate for the chief minister of Balochistan.
What will PML-N get?
PM Office
Punjab CM
Speaker National Assembly
Will get to nominate governors for Sindh and Balochistan
According to the Constitution, a session of the National Assembly has to be called by February 29 after which a vote for a new prime minister will take place.
How will the two parties coordinate?
Shehbaz Sharif will have the authority to choose anyone to his cabinet, according to PPP spokesperson Faisal Karim Kundi, who confirmed certain aspects of the power-sharing arrangement reached by the two parties on Wednesday.
In response to a question on the working strategy given that the PPP is unwilling to join a government, Kundi stated that committees are being established to make decisions.
He declared that the chief ministerial candidates for Sindh and Balochistan will be announced by the leadership.
“We will constructively criticize the government instead of engaging in criticism for the sake of criticism.”
