PML-N is increasing the pressure on the PPP with the army! – 2024-02-20 08:53:29

It has been almost two weeks since the election in Pakistan. It is not yet confirmed who will come to the government. With no single party gaining a single majority, coalition formation has become the only way to power. Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N and Bilwal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP are leading the discussion. However, they still could not agree on the power sharing strategy.

According to the information of the Pakistani daily The Express Tribune, independent candidates supported by Imran Khan’s party PTI won a maximum of 93 seats in the last February 8 election. PML-N won the second highest 74 seats. PPP came third by getting 54 seats.

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In this situation, former President of Pakistan, Bilwal Bhutto Zardari’s father and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari announced the new alliance in an official press conference on February 13. At that time, other party leaders were also by his side.

Zardari said that six parties have decided to form a central government in Pakistan. They are — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Istehaqam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).

However, even after almost a week has passed, this alliance has not yet made a final announcement. Fierce negotiations are going on over who will hold what government and constitutional positions.

PPP wants to install its own people in other important constitutional positions including President, National Assembly Speaker. But they are not willing to take any ministry.

On the contrary, the PML-N wants the Prime Minister’s post to remain with them. Besides, the PPP participated in the cabinet of the coalition government. Basically, PML-N and PPP have not yet reached a consensus on these.

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In this situation, various reports have claimed that the country’s army has warned the leadership of PPP and PML-N about the ‘consequences’ of delaying the formation of the coalition government.

PPP under pressure

Sources inside the PPP admitted to The Express Tribune that the party was facing ‘massive pressure’ to agree to the PML-N’s proposal.

The source, who did not wish to be named, suspected that the PML-N could use its influence through the military to force the PPP to join the coalition government.

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Regarding what the PPP can do in the face of such pressure, the leader said, there is little risk of the party backing down in this high-level discussion. In that case, another opportunity may come before the PPP, that is the proposal to make someone from the party as the Prime Minister.

He said that the PPP leaders may have said in public that they do not want the Prime Ministership. But if this opportunity presents itself in front of them, then it is less likely to be missed.

KAA/