2024-02-13 20:47:59
Two of the three largest parties in Pakistan said on Tuesday that they had reached an agreement to form a government coalition that would exclude supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, despite their leadership in the results of the legislative elections. Meanwhile, officials in the Tehreek-e-Insaf party loyal to Imran Khan confirmed that they would have won more seats had it not been for vote rigging.
Published on: 02/13/2024 – 21:47
3 minutes
Reported the Pakistan Muslim League led by Nawaz Sharif The Pakistan People’s Party, led by Bilawal Zardari, said in a press conference that they would form the next government with small parties.
Despite the attack on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party led by… Imran Khan He is currently imprisoned, subject to severe repression, but the performance of the independent candidates he supported exceeded expectations.
Shehbaz Sharif, head of the Pakistan Muslim League, along with officials of the Pakistan People’s Party and two other groups, said on Tuesday, “The parties here represent about two-thirds of the council that was elected.” He also expressed the attendees’ readiness to hold talks with Khan to include the PTI in the next government.
He added, “We forget and forgive – we forgive and forget – come and join hands to improve the country,” calling for “sacrificing self-interests and putting pride aside.”
Moreover, Imran Khan had previously ruled out, in a conversation in Adiala Prison – where he spent most of his time since his arrest last August – cooperation with parties.
“We will not sit with the PML-N nor with the Pakistan People’s Party,” he told a group of journalists covering a procedural hearing in the prison outside the capital, Islamabad.
He added, “We will challenge the fraud in the elections before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and we will study the alliance later.” It is one of Imran Khan’s first public statements since the announcement of the election results that took place last week.
It is noteworthy that doubts about the credibility of the elections have increased due to the authorities cutting off communications and Internet service via mobile phones throughout polling day.
Who will be the next prime minister..?
The press conference held by the Islamic League and the People’s Party on Tuesday left a number of questions unanswered, especially about who will occupy key positions in the next government.
Shehbaz Sharif, who served as Prime Minister in the last government, confirmed that he wants his older brother, Nawaz Sharif, who served as Prime Minister three times, to return to his position.
But PML-N spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb later said in a post on X that the younger Sharif would lead the country.
For his part, co-chair of the Pakistan People’s Party, Asif Ali Zardari, a former president of Pakistan, confirmed during the press conference, “We decided today to meet and form the government to rescue Pakistan from the difficulties.”
In addition, earlier, the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari, expressed that he would like to see his father become president again.
He added, “I am not saying this because he is my father. I am saying this because the country is going through a major crisis at the moment, and if anyone has the ability to put out this fire, it is Asif Ali Zardari.”
Independents loyal to Khan won about 90 seats out of 266 in Parliament. PTI officials confirm that they would have won more seats had it not been for vote rigging.
Also, independents cannot form a government despite obtaining the largest number of seats, as a recognized party or coalition of parties must form the government.
France 24/AFP
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