Pakistan: coalition agreement sees Shehbaz Sharif in power and Asif Ali Zardari as president
Nearly two weeks after the legislative elections in Pakistan, a government coalition agreement was concluded Tuesday evening between the Pakistan People's Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the Pakistan Muslim League of Nawaz Sharif, the rival parties of Imran Khan whose candidates independents supported by his party the PTI had nevertheless come first in the votes. Under the agreement, the post of prime minister is expected to go to Nawaz Sharif's brother Shehbaz Sharif.
Shehbaz Sharif, in April 2022. AFP - AAMIR QURESHI
By: RFI Follow
Advertisement
Read more
“
We hope that
Shehbaz Sharif
will soon become the Prime Minister of the country and the whole of Pakistan should pray for the success of the government
,” said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of
Asif Ali Zardari
and Benazir Bhutto. Following the coalition agreement between the parties from the country's two major political dynasties which excludes the supporters of the imprisoned former leader
Imran Khan
, Shehbaz Sharif should regain the reins of power in
Pakistan
.
Difficult economic situation
Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the difficult economic situation in the country. “
Seventy-six years after (independence), we find ourselves dependent on loans (...) We are facing considerable challenges
,” he admitted. And added: “
We must get Pakistan out of these difficulties
.”
And it is former President Asif Ali Zardari (2008-2013), husband of the assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was nominated by the PPP as a joint candidate for the presidency. The two parties also agreed on the ministerial portfolios which should be announced in the coming days. The elected deputies, for their part, must sit for the first time on February 29, three weeks after the vote, the date on which the coalition must be approved.
Read alsoLegislative elections in Pakistan: Imran Khan's main rivals reach a coalition agreement
“
Money order thieves
”
This alliance concluded on Tuesday is far from being a surprise and puts an end to two weeks of negotiations which once again distances the party of the imprisoned former leader Imran Khan from power, which had nevertheless obtained the largest number on February 8 seats in the National Assembly. The PML-N and the PPP had previously teamed up in 2022 to oust Imran Khan from power with a vote of no confidence, then formed a coalition until the dissolution of the National Assembly in August before the elections.
The PTI, which had denounced massive fraud, was indignant against the coalition agreement and described the rival parties as “
mandate thieves
”. “
The PML-N and the People’s Party deserve praise for their epic 30-year journey from stealing taxpayers’ money to stealing elections together
,” the party said on social network X.
(With AFP
)
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your inbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Share :
Continue reading on the same themes:
Imran Khan
Pakistan
Shehbaz Sharif