'You’re my candidate for PM slot’: Zardari to Shehbaz

Bilawal advises against bringing no-trust vote in NA before PPP's Feb 27 long march

Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, while talking to Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, said on Wednesday that the PML-N president was his candidate for prime minister's slot, saying “it doesn't matter to me what anybody says”.

He said this during a meeting with Shehbaz at the latter’s residence in Lahore's Model Town. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani were also present on the occasion.

صدر پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) شہباز شریف، سابق صدر آصف زرداری اور مولانا فضل الرحمن کے درمیان اہم ملاقات جاری۔

ملاقات میں لیگی رہنماء ایاز صادق، خواجہ سعد رفیق، صدر پنجاب رانا ثناءاللّٰہ اور ترجمان مریم اورنگزیب شریک pic.twitter.com/kiCUGKilaS

— PML(N) (@pmln_org) February 23, 2022

Before Zardari's arrival, Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) head Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other JUI-F leaders also met Shehbaz. During the meeting, the PML-N president took the JUI-F chief into confidence regarding his meeting with the PPP leaders earlier.

Read more: Fawad alleges opposition attempted to buy three PTI lawmakers

Both leaders discussed various issues including the no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

امیر جمیعت علمااسلام (ف) مولانا فضل الرحمن کی صدر پاکستان مسلم لیگ ن شہباز شریف سے ان کی رہائش گاہ پر ملاقات جاری pic.twitter.com/7o8wPkqdhw

— PML(N) (@pmln_org) February 23, 2022

Sources told The Express Tribune that the opposition parties took important decisions regarding the no-confidence vote. During the discussion, Bilawal suggested that the no-trust vote in NA should not be brought before his party's planned long march to Islamabad, adding that it should be tabled after PPP's March 8 public gathering in the federal capital.

He also said that the participation of people in the gathering would be the true reflection of public sentiments toward the sitting government.

On this, as per the sources, Shehbaz said that PDM has also announced a rally against the government and the alliance's head would also have to be taken onboard before reaching any decision.

Also read: Opposition relying on PTI defections

Sources further said that an important meeting of the opposition parties regarding the no-confidence motion would soon take place in Islamabad.

پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پارلیمنٹریز کے صدر آصف علی زرداری اور پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی ماڈل ٹاؤن میں شہباز شریف کی رہائش گاہ پر مسلم لیگ ن اور جمعیت علمائے اسلام کی قیادت سے ملاقات@AAliZardari @BBhuttoZardari @CMShehbaz @MoulanaOfficial pic.twitter.com/1cEvTP0qzP

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) February 23, 2022

‘No consensus over early elections’

Sources said that the PPP and government allies are not in favour of holding an early election whereas PML-N and Maulana Fazl support the idea.

They said that the allies have expressed their concerns about the scenario after dislodging the government from power. They were in favour of conducting the elections on its mandated time period.

Sources said the coalition partners of PTI government expected Zardari to persuade other opposition leaders to soften their stance on the matter.

PML-Q MNAs repose confidence in leadership

Meanwhile, 11 members of the National Assembly belonging to PML-Q contacted their leadership, expressing their complete support to Chaudhry brothers. Three of the MNAs also directly talked to Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

Maulana Fazl also reached the residence of the Chaudhry brothers in Lahore, where a meeting will take place. Sources said that the current political situation and the no-confidence motion will be discussed during the meeting.