Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has declared its stance to abstain from forming a coalition government with rival parties Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Despite holding a majority in the newly elected Parliament, PTI's decision to sit in the opposition was affirmed by senior party leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
The electoral landscape revealed a surge in support for independent candidates, largely affiliated with PTI, securing the most parliamentary seats.
However, with PTI lacking sufficient seats in the 266-member National Assembly to independently form a government, Gohar Khan emphasized the party's reluctance to collaborate with PML-N or PPP, citing discomfort with both parties.
"We don’t feel comfortable with both (PML-N and PPP) of them. There will be no talks with anyone to make a government or to make a government together with them. It is better to sit in the opposition than to make a government [with them], but we think we have the majority," asserted Gohar Khan in an interview with Dawn News.
Despite initial claims by PTI to form a government, the party's prospects appeared dim, given the requisite 169 seats needed in the 336-member house. Independent candidates, predominantly backed by PTI, secured 101 seats, while PML-N secured 75 seats and PPP secured 54 seats. Further complicating matters, the allocation of 60 women-reserved seats and 10 minority seats based on proportional representation posed additional challenges for PTI.
In light of these complexities, PTI resolved to assume the role of the opposition, enabling PML-N, PPP, and other parties to explore coalition formations. Gohar Khan reiterated PTI's commitment to a robust opposition stance, affirming the party's determination to hold the government accountable.
Highlighting the fluidity of Pakistan's political landscape, Gohar Khan criticized politicians who frequently switched loyalties, emphasizing their rejection by voters in the recent elections. Notably, PTI-backed independent candidate Waseem Qadir's potential defection to PML-N prompted scrutiny, with PTI asserting control over other independent candidates.
Looking ahead, Gohar Khan outlined PTI's strategy to engage in parliamentary proceedings, advocating for solutions to national issues. He referenced party founder Imran Khan's directives to focus on governance and parliamentary responsibilities, signaling a departure from past disruptive tactics, including sit-ins and dissolution of provincial assemblies.
Meanwhile, discussions between PML-N and PPP leadership commenced soon after election results surfaced. While deliberations initially revolved around leadership roles, both parties faced challenges in reaching consensus. PML-N remained steadfast in considering Shehbaz Sharif as a potential prime ministerial candidate, signaling a departure from Nawaz Sharif's previous aspirations for leadership.
Amidst negotiations, PPP maintained its stance on endorsing Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the prime ministerial candidate, reflecting decisions made by the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) prior to the elections.
Sources indicated a potential compromise, with proposals to divide the prime ministerial tenure between PML-N and PPP candidates. A proposed three-year term for a PML-N candidate followed by a two-year term for a PPP candidate emerged as a plausible solution, with discussions ongoing to finalize the arrangement.
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