A coalition government agreement has been reached between the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party, according to which the Prime Minister will be from the PML-N and the President from the PPP.
Under the agreement, successful negotiations were held on forming a PML-N government with the PPP delegation under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto at Ishaq Dar’s residence in Islamabad. The negotiation committee members from the PML-N and PPP, as well as PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto, were present. Other participants included Ishaq Dar, Murad Ali Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Ahsan Iqbal.
Both parties have committed to meeting the public’s relief and expectations. The meeting concluded with prayers for well-being.
Maryam Aurangzeb, the PML-N’s Secretary of Information, revealed that a meeting took place at Ishaq Dar’s residence between PML-N’s nominee for Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. This resulted in an agreement between the two parties for forming a government.
Under the coalition agreement, the PPP will hold the position of President, while the PML-N will have the position of Prime Minister in the federal government. Additionally, the National Assembly Speaker will be from the PML-N, and the Senate Chairman will be from the PPP.
The agreement also entails that both parties will form a coalition government in Balochistan, where the PML-N will govern for half the term and the PPP will have the Chief Minister position for the other half.
The PPP will not be part of the federal cabinet, nor will they hold any ministerial portfolios, but they will vote for Shehbaz Sharif for Prime Minister.
Shehbaz Sharif stressed that despite not having a majority, both the PPP and PML-N are in a position to form a government. He also expressed gratitude to Zardari, Bilawal, and the leader of the PML-N.
Other coalition partners, including MQM, APML, and Q League, were also thanked by the PML-N President. He emphasized the need for all coalition partners to cast their votes.
Asif Zardari, former President, emphasized the importance of unity for future generations and Pakistan’s people being at the heart of the coalition.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the PPP, stated that Asif Ali Zardari will be the joint candidate for the presidency, while Shehbaz Sharif will be the joint candidate for the Prime Ministership.
He assured the public that there will be no delay in forming the government and that all details will be shared soon. As for the distribution of ministerial positions, they will be decided in due course.
Before the negotiations, Shehbaz Sharif went from Lahore to Islamabad, and later to Mary’s, responding to Nawaz Sharif’s request. The Central Committee briefed Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif on the PPP’s relations. Later, Bilawal Bhutto’s PPP delegation reached Ishaq Dar’s residence for final discussions.