The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided to form a ‘unity government’ in Pakistan after National Assembly elections threw a big surprise and independents backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI won lions share.
Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N central president and brother of former PM Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the residence of Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore to discuss their possible alliance to form the unity government.
“The meeting was a very brief one; it didn’t last very long. Mr Zardari landed in Lahore on Friday evening while Bilawal was already there. The two drove to Naqvi’s place where Shehbaz was already waiting for their arrival. It was a brief discussion but apparently it ended on a positive note,” Dawn reported citing a source.
PML-N had emerged as the single largest party but PTI-backed independents dominated the general elections amid accusations of poll rigging.
While final results of the general elections in Pakistan are yet to be announced, Imran Khan’s PTI-backed independents have won the most 94 seats, so far.
Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N has won 63 and Zardari’s PPP has managed 50 seats. The results on several seats were still being counted.
The Pakistan general elections for 265 National Assembly constituencies were held on Thursday and the counting of votes had started soon after the polling ended at 5 pm.
The counting process was marred by controversies and videos of election malpractices started circulating on social media following which internet was suspended.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army Chief Asif Munir has said that the country’s diverse polity and pluralism will be “well-represented by a unified government of all democratic forces imbibed with national purpose.
“Elections and democracy are means to serve people of Pakistan and not ends in themselves. The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation which does not suit a progressive country of 250 million people,” he further added.