Shehbaz Sharif Likely To Become Next Pakistan PM As Coalition Led By Him Set To Cross Simple Majority Mark
ISLAMABAD (Press Trust of Kashmir) :Shehbaz Sharif is poised to assume the role of Pakistan’s new prime minister, as the coalition of prominent political parties under his leadership gears up to comfortably surpass the simple majority mark required to form the next government. This development puts an end to speculations surrounding the future administration following elections that yielded a split mandate.
Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), convened at the residence of Shujaat Hussain from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for a consultative meeting on Tuesday night. The leaders emerged from the meeting with a consensus on government formation.
“I am grateful to Zardari and Bilawal (Bhutto) for their decision to align their party’s support with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),” stated Shehbaz Sharif, expressing appreciation towards the gathered leaders. PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that party stalwart Nawaz Sharif had nominated Shehbaz Sharif, his younger brother, for the position of prime minister, with Maryam Nawaz nominated for the role of Punjab’s chief minister.
Acknowledging the support extended by other political parties, Nawaz Sharif expressed optimism that Pakistan would navigate through its challenges with such decisions. Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the coalition’s substantial majority in parliament and pledged to address the country’s economic woes as a top priority.
The Election Commission of Pakistan’s data indicates that the coalition, comprising the PML-N, PPP, MQM-P, PML-Q, IPP (Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party), and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), is set to secure a total of 152 general seats. This comfortably surpasses the minimum required number of 169, once the addition of 60 women and 10 minority seats is factored in. However, the attainment of the elusive two-thirds majority, requiring 224 seats in the 336-member National Assembly, remains to be seen.
“Our battle now is against the nation’s challenges, foremost among them being the economy,” asserted Shehbaz Sharif, underlining the imperative of uniting leadership to propel the nation towards progress and prosperity.
