Following the outcome of last week’s national elections, which resulted in a hung parliament, former Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been nominated to lead a new coalition alliance formed between different parties.
Announcing the nomination, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb stated, “PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif as a candidate for the slot of prime minister and his daughter Maryam Nawaz for chief minister of Punjab province.”
Expressing gratitude to the supporting political parties, Nawaz Sharif highlighted the hope that such decisions would help Pakistan overcome its crises.
Shehbaz Sharif, affiliated with PML-N, is set to lead the coalition alliance. With PML-N holding 75 seats and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) securing 54 seats, these two parties collectively have sufficient seats to secure a simple majority in the 266-seat legislature.
In a significant move, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari withdrew from contention for the prime ministerial position and announced his party’s endorsement of any nominee put forward by PML-N. The PPP further declared its decision to back Sharif’s party in establishing a minority government, resolving the deadlock following the inconclusive elections.
However, concerns regarding government formation have now been assuaged with this alliance, coming five days after the Feb. 8 elections yielded a divided outcome and raised fears of renewed instability.
Independent candidates, backed by jailed former premier Imran Khan, emerged as the largest group with 92 seats. However, they cannot form a government independently and have ruled out alliances with PML-N or PPP.
With independents winning 101 seats, the path to establishing a government hinges on securing 133 seats out of the 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly. While other parties garnered 17 seats, the outcome of one constituency remains withheld.
As Pakistan navigates through this political landscape, the nomination of Shehbaz Sharif signals a new chapter in the nation’s governance, promising potential stability amidst the post-election complexities.
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