Left: PPP co-chair Bilawal Bhutto, Right: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif
The talks between the Pakistan Muslims League Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on a power sharing for a coalition government remained inconclusive though both sides claimed significant progress in the discussions, according to a media report on February 18, 2024.
The third meeting between the Contact and Coordination Committees (CCC) of the two parties which took place on February 17, 2024 remained inconclusive and both decided to meet again on February 19, 2024 to finalize the power sharing formula.
A brief announcement issued by the PML-N after the meeting said that there had been a significant progress in the talks with both sides, stressing the need for a strong democratic government. “The proposals put forth by both parties were thoroughly discussed and while substantial progress was achieved, further deliberations are required to finalize the matters at hand, a joint statement read.
The Nawaz Sharif led PML-N nominated his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif as the eligible candidate as thr Prime Minister of Pakistan.
During the meeting on February 17, 2024, the PML-N was represented by Ishaq Dar, Sardar Azam Nazer Tarar and Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, whereas those representing the PPP were the former chief minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah, Saeed Ghani, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.In the last meeting on February 15, 2024, the representatives of both parties sought more time to assess the proposals discussed in the first meeting.
The Bilawal Bhutto Zardari led PPP has assured the PML-N of it support in the government formation and election of the next Prime Minister on the condition that in return, it will get key constitutional offices including the office of President.
The party has announced that despite supporting the PML-N at the centre, the party will not take ministries in the federal Cabinet. Sources say that the PML-N had been vigorously trying to change PPP minds on the issue of ministries before discussing constitutional offices. The latter has so far refused to budge.
A bearer of the PPP, privy to talk on government formation told a Pakistani national media agency that the party has decided to seek thr posts of National Assembly speaker and Senate Chairman. But, the PML-N appears reluctant and wants to keep the National Assembly Speakers office with it, the PPP added.
The PPP has sought top offices in both houses of parliament as the party feared that under the PML-N, the Parliament would not be able to gain its lost prestige. Sources in the PPP claimed that so far, the party had not finalized the names for the top constitutional and parliamentary offices.
They said that besides the present National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, who is expected to retain the post, ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gilani, who won the NA seat from Multan also desires the post.
The PPP has also asked the PML-N for support in the Senate elections for the seat that Gilani would vacate if he is nominated as the NA, according to party sources. Gilani could also be selected as Senate Chaiman, but it all depended on th outcome of the ongoing elections between the committees.
The other issues which sources said, under discussions was the allocation of development of funds for provinces. They said the PPP wanted assurance from PML-N leadership that it would release development funds to provinces particularly Sindh without any hindrance. According to reports, the PPP has asked the PML-N to give it some space in Punjab as a precursor to any support in government formation.
In Punjab, PML-N emerged as the single largest party after the February 8 general elections with 137 general seats. The party has already nominated Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of Nawaz Sharif, as the new chief minister. The PPP won 10 seats of the provincial assembly and emerged as the third major party behind PTI-backed independents, who bagged 116 seats.
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