Bilawal says PPP will support PML-N’s candidate for PM but won’t join cabinet

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday said his party would support the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for the prime minister’s position but would not become a part of the cabinet.

In a press conference after the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, Bilawal said his party didn’t have enough numbers to form its own government.

Bilawal sharpens anti-PML(N) rhetoric

“I’m not a candidate for the PM,” Bilawal said, adding that he wanted to see his father Asif Ali Zardari as the President to “save Pakistan” from the current political instability.

PPP chairman announced that the CEC meeting decided to form a committee to engage with other political parties regarding formation of the government.

“We will support the incoming government on issue to issue basis,” he added.

The development comes after no party in the country could secure simply majority in the February 8 general elections.

As per the provisional results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan ECP), the independents candidates - mostly backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - won 101 seats, PML-N 75, PPP 54, and MQM secured 17 general seats in the elections.

However, no party can form the government on its own for not having enough majority.

Earlier during the day, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said his party was ready to sit in opposition if independents candidates succeeded in making the government.

“If they call themselves PTI-sponsored or non-PTI-sponsored — if they can form a government then they should. The President will not give them an invitation. On behalf of my party, independents are free, if they want to make a government, go ahead. We will sit in the opposition and fulfil our role,” he said.

Later, PTI announced its intent to form coalition governments with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) in the Centre and Punjab.

Raoof Hasan, the party’s central information secretary, announced the decision following a meeting with Imran Khan in Adiala jail.

“We will form a coalition with the Jamaat-i-Islami in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for reserved seats,” he stated.

Raoof claimed that Imran had made it clear that the people who had won the elections should have the authority to establish a government.