The results of the disappointing Pakistani election have sparked intense discussions, according to insiders, and senior PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari wants to become president of the nation for himself in return for backing Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif is rumored to be eager to elevate his daughter Maryam Nawaz to the position of Punjab chief minister.
Nawaz Sharif is not too keen on serving as the nation’s prime minister for a fourth term in the absence of an absolute majority for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, sources close to the PML-N told News18 on Saturday. They also raised the possibility that his brother Shehbaz Sharif would assume the role once more.
Pakistan’s general election on Thursday was tainted by claims of vote-rigging, intermittent violence, and a nationwide mobile phone blackout; the votes are still being tabulated. Although other parties participated, the primary race involved Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose candidates stood as independents, the PML-N, which was led by former prime minister Sharif, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which was led by Bilawal Zardari Bhutto.
In spite of claims made by Khan’s supporters and a national rights organization that the voting was rigged to favor Nawaz Sharif, independent candidates supported by the imprisoned Khan—who was barred from contesting in the election on Thursday due to criminal convictions—were leading the vote count on Friday.
According to insiders, the lackluster results have sparked intense discussions since Asif Ali Zardari, a prominent PPP leader and father of Bilawal, wants to become president of the country in return for backing Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Pakistan was led by the late Benazir Bhutto’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari, as president from 2008 to 2013.
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif is rumored to desire his daughter Maryam Nawaz to become chief minister of Punjab.
Because of his anti-army stance, the establishment is likewise uncomfortable with the prospect of Nawaz leading a government. According to a source, the army believes Shehbaz Sharif would make an excellent prime minister and lead the government to achieve its goals.
Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are probably going to meet on Saturday night in Lahore to negotiate.
As to the most recent data provided by the Election Commission, 226 out of 265 constituencies have their results declared. While the PML-N received 64 seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party received 50, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement received 12, and other parties received eight, independent candidates—who were primarily backed by the PTI—won 92 seats. A party needs to get 133 seats in the National Assembly out of 265 in order to form a government. A candidate’s death resulted in a postponement of the election for one seat.
Of the 336 seats total—including the seats set aside for women and minorities—169 seats are required to achieve a simple majority.