Media Reports from Pakistan suggest that Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), is poised to secure the presidency of the country once again, marking his second term in office.
This development follows an agreement between PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to form a coalition government at the national level, as per sources cited by The News International.
In the wake of the February 8 elections yielding a fragmented mandate, Pakistan has remained without a functioning government for nearly a week. With no single party securing a decisive majority, the prospect of a coalition government became inevitable.
Under the anticipated alliance between PML-N and PPP, Shehbaz Sharif, the younger sibling of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is anticipated to assume the role of Pakistan's next prime minister.
This collaboration effectively sidelines the aspirations of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, despite its backed independent candidates securing a significant number of seats in the National Assembly.
Asif Ali Zardari, aged 68, previously served as the President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013. With the incumbent President Dr. Arif Alvi set to vacate his position later this month, the stage is set for a new leadership transition.
In a surprising move, the PML-N nominated 72-year-old Shehbaz as its candidate for prime minister instead of its three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif. This decision comes amidst Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan in October last year, following a period of self-imposed exile in the UK, as reported.
The coalition government formed by PML-N and PPP has garnered support from other political entities such as the MQM-P, PML-Q, IPP, and BAP, mirroring the model of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.
During a press conference attended by top leaders, discussions revolved around the formation of the government. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of PPP, expressed the party's intention to nominate candidates for constitutional posts such as the National Assembly speaker, Senate chairman, and president. Notably, he advocated for Asif Ali Zardari's candidacy for the presidency, citing his capacity to address the prevailing challenges facing the nation.
According to sources, PML-N leadership has agreed to endorse Zardari's candidacy for the presidency in exchange for PPP's support for Shehbaz's prime ministerial bid.
Furthermore, PPP has set its sights on securing the post of Balochistan chief minister, with party leader Sarfraz Bugti apprising the party of the province's political dynamics, as reported by The News International.
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