PML-N, PPP fail to agree on power-sharing formula for government formation

Negotiations between Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and the Pakistan People’s Party over a power-sharing package for a coalition government remain inconclusive, media reports said on Sunday, although both sides claimed that discussions had made significant progress.

The third meeting of the bipartisan Liaison and Coordination Committee (CCC) held on Saturday was still inconclusive, and the two sides decided to meet again on Monday to finalize the power-sharing plan.

After the meeting, the PML-N issued a brief announcement saying that negotiations with both parties had made significant progress, emphasizing the need for a strong democratic government.

“The proposals put forward by both parties have been discussed in depth and, while substantial progress has been made, further deliberation is required to finalize the matter at hand,” the joint statement said.

The Muslim League-Sharif led by Nawaz Sharif nominated Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister. The majority party backed by independent candidates – former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf – won 93 of the 265 seats in the National Assembly contested in the February 8 election.

PML-N won 75 seats, while the PPP came in third with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) also agreed to support them with its 17 seats.

To form a government, a party must win 133 of the 265 contested seats in the 266-member National Assembly.

At Saturday’s meeting, the PML-N was represented by Ishaq Dar, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Azam Nazeer Tarar and Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, while the PPP was represented by former Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Saeed Ghani, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Nawab Sanaullah Zeri.

In the final meeting on Thursday, representatives from both sides sought more time to evaluate the proposals discussed in the first meeting.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s PPP has assured the Muslim League-North of its support for government formation and the election of the next prime minister, on the condition that the PPP will be given key constitutional posts, including the presidency.

The PPP also announced that it would not hold a ministry in the federal cabinet despite supporting the Muslim League-centered party.

Sources said the PML-N has been actively working to change the PPP’s perspective on ministries and departments issues ahead of discussions on the Constitutional Office.

The latter has so far refused to budge. A PPP office bearer privy to the government formation talks told Dawn that the party has decided to seek the posts of Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Senate.

But the PPP leader added that the PML-N seemed unwilling and wanted to retain the office of National Speaker.

The PPP has sought top posts in both houses of parliament as the party fears that the parliament will not be able to regain its lost prestige under the leadership of the Muslim League-North.

Sources in the PPP said the party has not finalized its names for the top constitutional and parliamentary posts so far.

They said that apart from current Parliament Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, who is expected to retain the post, former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who won the parliamentary seat from Multan, is also hoping to get it. One position.

According to party sources, the PPP has also asked the Muslim League to support the Senate elections for the seat that will be vacated by Gilani if ​​he is nominated as Speaker of the National Assembly.

Gilani may also be considered for the Senate chairmanship, but it all depends on the outcome of ongoing negotiations between committees.

Another issue being discussed is the distribution of development funds among provinces, sources said.

They said the PPP wanted an assurance from the Muslim League leadership that development funds would be released to the provinces, especially Sindh, without any hindrance.

The PPP has reportedly asked the PML-N to give it some space in Punjab as a precursor to any support for government formation.

In Punjab, the PML-N emerged as the largest party after the February 8 general election, with 137 seats.

The party has nominated Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the new chief minister. The PPP won 10 seats in the provincial assembly, becoming the third largest party after the PTI-backed Independent Party (116 seats).

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)