Political stalemate continues in Pakistan as PPP, PML-N fail to reach agreement on coalition govt formation

A political stalemate in Pakistan continued as Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz PMLN and Pakistan Peoples Party PPP failed to reach an agreement on government formation following a split mandate in national elections Pakistanbased The Express Tribune reportedBoth the parties have decided to hold a meeting on Monday which will be the fourth such meeting to build consensus to form a coalition governmentBoth sides formed their Contact and Coordination Committees CCCs to discuss and formalise recommendations for the coalitionThe coordination committees of both parties held a meeting in Islamabad A joint declaration issued after the meeting stated that detailed discussions took place regarding government formationPPP and PMLN made significant progress on various issues However the two parties concluded the meeting without a final resolution The Express Tribune reportedThe joint statement reads The proposals put forth by both parties were thoroughly discussed and while substantial progress was achieved further deliberations are required to finalise the matters at handStressing the importance of a robust democratic government for the stability of Pakistan the committee members discussed the necessity of reaching a consensus according to The Express Tribune reportThe PMLN delegation included Ishaq Dar Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Azam Nazir Tarar and Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan Meanwhile the PPP delegation included Syed Murad Ali Shah Qamar Zaman Kaira Saeed Ghani Nadeem Afzal Chan Nawab Sanaullah Zehri Shuja Khan and Sardar Bahadur KhanOn Tuesday the PPP said it would support the PMLN to form a minority government at the Centre Later a PMLN spokesperson said that the party had nominated Shehbaz Sharif for the post of Pakistan PM The Express Tribune reportedPPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also put forward conditions for supporting the Shehbaz Sharifled coalition He said the PPP would support the PMLN in electing Pakistans PM However it would not be part of the government and he indicated that his party would seek some constitutional posts in return The two parties formed their Contact and Coordination Committees CCCs to discuss and formalise recommendations for the coalitionPakistan held its 12th national general election on February 8 amid allegations of rigging and the shutdown of cellular and internet servicesAccording to the election results Independent candidates supported by the Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI have won 92 seats PMLN is currently in the second position in the vote count with 79 seats while the PPP has won 54 seats Geo News reportedThe MQMP has secured victory in 17 constituencies JUIF has won four seats PMLQ secured victory in three constituencies while IPP and BNP won two seats each The MWM National Party PMLZ Balochistan Awami Party Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party have won one seat eachMeanwhile the Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI on Friday announced that it will sit in opposition in the Centre and Punjab Pakistanbased The News International reported The decision has been taken as per the directives issued by PTI founder Imran Khan who remains incarcerated in Rawalpindis Adiala JailSpeaking to reporters after a meeting with the Qaumi Watan Party QWP PTI leader Muhammad Ali Saif said that the party had decided to sit on the opposition benches in the National Assembly and Punjab AssemblyMany politicians face the allegations that they have power lust but we have decided to sit in the opposition in the Centre and Punjab despite the fact that if we had got the seats according to the votes we received we would have been forming the government in the Centre he said according to The News International reportSaif further said that the Form45s were evidence that the PTIbacked candidates had secured win However the results were changed in the Form47s He said that the party was getting in touch with the political parties as per the orders given by Imran Khan and added that a delegation led by Asad Qaiser visited the QWP secretariatThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever