On Saturday, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, asserted that President Arif Alvi would extend an invitation to his party to form the government, citing their majority in the National Assembly, as reported by the media.
The threshold to establish a government requires a party to secure 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly. The total seats, including reserved slots for women and minorities, amount to 336, with 169 seats constituting a simple majority.
Barrister Gohar Khan claimed that PTI had won 170 seats in the National Assembly, although official results indicate 100 seats. President Alvi, formerly a senior member of PTI, is expected to invite the party to form the government.
Despite being in jail and disqualified from contesting, Khan emphasised PTI's commitment to moving forward peacefully, abiding by the Constitution and the law.
Pakistan's army chief, Gen Asim Munir, urged polarised political factions to forge a "unified government of all democratic forces" after a potentially hung Parliament. The plea came after independent candidates supported by PTI won a majority of 102 seats, followed by PML-N with 73, PPP with 54, MQM with 17, and smaller parties securing 11 seats out of 257 announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Gen Munir stressed the need for a stable government, emphasising that elections are a means to serve the people, not a zero-sum competition. He called for political maturity and unity among parties.
Meanwhile, PTI's Raoof Hasan mentioned that the party had initiated consultations for their future course of action, despite challenges in holding physical meetings due to the incarceration of many elected candidates.
As efforts to form a unity government gain momentum, with PML-N and PPP leading in the remaining seat counts, analysts suggest the necessity of support from other parties or independents to form a government. The key sticking point between PML-N and PPP is the consensus on the prime minister's name.
The situation is further complicated for PTI-backed independents, who have three days after official notifications to decide their affiliation. However, the majority of independents are perceived to be loyal to PTI's leader, Imran Khan.
The role of the establishment in political negotiations and deals is anticipated to be a decisive factor in shaping the next government, considering Pakistan's complex political history.
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