The political crisis in Pakistan continues. As no party got an absolute majority in the latest National Assembly elections, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is trying to come to power with the help of the army. His party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is all set to take over the reins of Pakistan. Sharif party and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have agreed in principle to form a coalition government but they failed to prove the required strength. Finally, the army is becoming active in this crisis. There are speculations that the army will intervene in the government formation.
Imran Khan is Ahead in Number Game
There are 336 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan out of which 266 are directly elected. The remaining 70 seats will be reserved for minorities and women. A total of 265 seats went to polls in the national election. 101 independent candidates supported by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won in the elections. All of them contested as independent candidates after the EC canceled the symbol of Imran Khan's party. After the victory in the elections, they supported Imran Khan.
Parties Locked into Coalition Talks
Former Prime Minister and Chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supreme Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are trying to form a coalition government. Still, they do not have the required majority. Sharif’s Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 75 seats. As a result, this party emerged as the single largest party in parliament. PPP headed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto) won 54 seats. In the Karachi area, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement party won 17 seats, and 12 seats were won by other smaller parties.
Magic Number is 133
A total of 133 seats are needed to form the government. The results of 3 seats in Balochistan are yet to be announced. The process was delayed before the results were announced, leading to tension in Pakistan. As of now, Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are expected to form a coalition government but this two-party coalition needs 6 more seats to form a government.
Major General Syed Asim Munir is the Crucial
Even though the people voted in the elections, they could not give the mandate to form a proper government. With this, Army Chief Gen Syed Asim Munir becomes a Key person in the formation of the new government. There is speculation that the army will intervene in the formation of the government. Gen. Asim Munir is said to be in the process of forming a coalition government led by Nawaz Sharif. He already made an announcement about the formation of a democratic government. Sharif, who fled to London on bail after being convicted of corruption, had been accused by the military of being behind his return just before the election.
Sharif & Bilawal Talks on Power Sharing Formula
According to sources, some key proposals on power-sharing came up during the talks between the parties of Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto. The PPP has been insisting that its chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari be made the prime minister. Bilawal also said that the PML-N will share the prime minister's post for three years and the PPP for two years. There is no clarity on which party will get the prime minister's post. If this power-sharing formula is Okayed by both parties, Nawaz Sharif is likely to be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The PML-N won only 75 seats and it needs the support of the PPP, which won 54 seats. The PML-N and the PPP together have 129 seats. The magic figure is 133. The PML-N also announced that six independents have joined the party. MQM-P is likely to support the coalition, which won 17 seats.
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said it will not join a coalition government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In a message recorded in the hail, he made it clear that his party would like to sit in the opposition rather than collaborate with Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Re-polling on February 15
There were complaints of malpractice at some polling stations. The Election Commission has ordered re-polling in these polling stations on February 15. Re-polling is being held in 26 polling stations of NA-88 in Punjab province due to the destruction of some election materials. Re-polling will be held in two polling stations of PS-18 in Sindh province and 25 polling stations of PK-90 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
