LAHORE (Daily Point) — Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) contender for the prime ministership, announced on Friday his intention to establish a unified government following what he described as his party’s “victory” in the February 8 general elections.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd in Lahore’s Model Town during his “victory speech,” Nawaz Sharif disclosed, “I have instructed Shehbaz Sharif to hold discussions with Fazlur Rehman, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Asif Ali Zardari today.”
However, despite the ongoing tallying of results, candidates supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are leading with over 90 seats, while the PML-N is trailing behind.
Contrary to this, senior leaders of the PML-N asserted that their candidates have secured a majority of seats and are poised to form the central government.
“Alhamdulillah, today the PML-N stands as the largest single party in the country after the elections,” they proclaimed.
The thrice-former premier, who returned from self-imposed exile in October last year, called upon all national institutions and politicians to contribute positively to resolving the ongoing crises in the country.
Highlighting the fragile state of the economy, Nawaz Sharif remarked, “It will take at least 10 years to stabilize the country.”
He emphasized that it was the responsibility of the PML-N to navigate the country through these challenges.
The PML-N leader emphasized respect for the mandates of all political parties and independent candidates, inviting them to collaborate with the former ruling party for the nation’s betterment.
“Our singular agenda is a prosperous Pakistan,” he affirmed.
In a possible indication of forming a coalition government, the PML-N’s top leader announced that Shehbaz Sharif, the party’s President, would meet with PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, JUI-F Chief Fazalur Rehman, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and other leaders later in the day.
Earlier, PML-N leader Ishaq Dar mentioned that successful independent candidates had reached out to their party expressing interest in joining.
However, PTI, which also claims to have secured the largest number of National Assembly seats, dismissed the possibility of forming an alliance with either the PML-N or the Pakistan Peoples Party to establish the federal government.
Pakistan experienced its largest-ever general elections on February 8. While the official results were expected shortly after midnight, the delay in the release of unofficial results, extending over 24 hours after polling ended, has sparked controversy.
