PML-N opens talks for coalition govt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif announced on Friday his intentions to form government at the Centre and tasked party president Shehbaz Sharif to open talks with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in this regard.

Shortly after Nawaz made the announcement, Shehbaz reportedly held talks with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Co-Chairman Asif Zardari during a meeting held at the Chief Minister House in Lahore. The meeting was also attended by PPP leader Faryal Talpur.

Shahbaz also spoke with MQM Rabita Committee Convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui by telephone and expressed his desire for talks on government formation. Dr Siddiqui assured him that he would consult the party’s Rabita Committee on the matter after the complete election results.

Some PPP leaders have indicated that the party will convene its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition government. Throughout the election campaign, the PPP had bitterly criticized the PML-N for its poor performance during the previous coalition government.

Nawaz delivered his "victory speech" at the PML-N Secretariat in Lahore, despite his party being relegated to the second position, as independent candidates supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the largest group in the incoming National Assembly after Thursday's vote.

Insiders have revealed that the PPP leadership is pursuing a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, they are bargaining for a better share in the government. Secondly, they are working to rope in the maximum number of independent candidates in Punjab to further consolidate their position.

Previously, senior PPP leader Khursheed Shah reportedly stated that the party would not engage in discussions with PML-N if Nawaz Sharif asserted himself as the prime minister. This implies that the PPP was open to considering a coalition but without Nawaz assuming the role of prime minister.

The PPP, however, has not taken this position officially.

The MQM too has expressed its willingness to the proposition of a coalition government. Dr Siddiqui had said that the MQM would work unconditionally with parties for the sake of the betterment of the people. He added that they had a three-point demand, which they would take to parliament.

Given that PML-N enjoys very good relationship with the JUI-F, an engagement with Maulana Fazlur Rehman would be more of a formality.

Given the PTI's current strained relationship with the establishment, its prospects for returning to government, despite securing an impressive victory in Thursday’s elections, appear very slim.

The government that PML-N is likely to form is anticipated to resemble a rerun of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) coalition government, which assumed power after the removal of the PTI government through a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and remained in office until August 2023.

PML-N tactfully acknowledged its polling position and utilized technicalities to claim victory, as on paper, the party emerged as the single largest political party. This occurred after PTI fielded its candidates as independents following the denial of its electoral symbol.

Nawaz claimed that not only at the Centre, but the PML-N had also emerged as the single largest party in Punjab. He stated that he would have been happier if the party had got a simple majority to form a government at the Centre on its own.

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If they had obtained simple majority, Nawaz continued, they would have invited other parties to join them, to form a coalition government. “We will invite PPP, MQM and JUI to join us in forming a government to take Pakistan out of the quagmire it is currently in,” he said.

Emphasising that a collective effort was the need of the hour, Nawaz said he had instructed Shehbaz Sharif to meet Asif Zardari, Maulana Fazl and Dr Siddiqui, adding that he had given the mandate to Shehbaz Sharif and senior party leader Ishaq Dar, who would hold the first meeting on Friday.

Talking about Punjab, Nawaz also dropped a hint that Shehbaz might again become the provincial chief minister, as he said that his role had been commendable. In a lighter vein, he also said that Shehbaz had already started buying laptops for the youngsters.

Responding to a question, he said he wanted to give his speech on Thursday but then the results were still awaited. On Thursday with only 10 to 12% results announced, people formed an opinion which was beyond comprehension, Nawaz added.

Nawaz stressed the need for all parties to sit together and form a government, because the country “cannot afford another round of elections”. He said that all institutions, parliament, judiciary, armed forces and media should play a positive role to take the country out of this quagmire.

The three times former prime minister said that he respected the mandate given to all the parties, even the independent candidates. He added that he invited them also to join the PML-N in taking country out of the crisis.

He said that they should come up to the expectation of the masses. He suggested that a 10-year period of stability was required to put the country on the right track. He added that they had to take the country in the 21 century.

He reminded the people of the services of his party in the past, saying that from defence to financial position, the party had several achievements under their belt. He said that the party had “done this before and will do it again”.