Pakistan Govt Formation: PPP-Nawaz League Meet Likely Today For Power-Sharing Talks, Report Says

Pakistan elections held on February 8 to elect the 266-member National Assembly threw up a fractured mandate. PPP has assured PML-N of support in forming govt but power-sharing talks are not final yet

Shehbaz Sharif of PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of PPP.

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The contact and coordination committees of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are likely to meet today (Friday) for the second round of power-sharing talks to form the next government, Dawn reported. The committees were scheduled to meet on Thursday, but the talks could not take place because both parties needed more time to assess all the proposals discussed in the first meeting, the report said.

Pakistan went to polls on February 8 to elect the 266-member National Assembly, but the results showed a fractured mandate, with independent candidates, mostly backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party, winning 101 seats. Former PM Nawaz Sharif's PML-N won 75 seats, while former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP secured 54 seats. 

The PML-N has nominated Shehbaz Sharif, 72, as its prime ministerial candidate, instead of party supremo and three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif.

What's Coming In The Way Of Govt Formation

No party has so far come forward to form the government, though the PPP has assured PML-N of support in forming the government. PPP has also assured Nawaz league of its support in the election of the next PM, but on a condition — the PML-N will have to support the PPP in the elections to key constitutional offices, the Dawn report said.

There are 70 such constitutional posts, with 60 of them reserved for women and 10 for minorities.

According to Dawn, there is a tough competition for these spots, which is making things difficult for PPP.

Quoting sources, the report said former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani was in contention for the speaker post but has been asked to retain his Senate seat, which could mean he might be considered for Senate chairman.

The name of former opposition leader Khursheed Shah, meanwhile, is doing the rounds for the speaker post, with the buzz being both houses could have a representative from Sindh as their custodians, the Dawn report said. However, it added, the PML-N has has a candidate — former speaker Ayaz Sadiq — in mind for the position.

PTI Calls Protests On Feb 17 

The PTI has called nationwide "peaceful protests" on February 17, saying rivals parties were stealing the the people's mandate for it.

Talking to the media after meeting Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, PTI senior leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the former PM had given instructions to the party to hold peaceful protests across Pakistan, news agency PTI reported.

"The PTI workers will hold peaceful protests across the country on Saturday against manipulation and rigging in the elections," he said.

He refuted reports of PTI forming a government with the PPP. “We will not negotiate with the PPP. The PTI's founder Imran Khan’s clear stance is that he will not share power with the PML-N and PPP,” Gauhar said.

PPP Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi also said the PTI has not made any contact with the party for any political reconciliation, Dawn reported.