ISLAMABAD: Two days following Pakistan’s general elections were held, not a single political party managed to secure a golden figure among the major parties to form the government in the South Asian country. As per the latest tally by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), results from 257 National Assembly seats had been announced as of Saturday evening, out of a total of 266.
According to the ECP, independent candidates won 102, PML-N 73, PPPP 54, and MQM 17 seats on February 8 polls in Pakistan. As per the results independent candidates took the first stage while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) has emerged as the largest political party. PPP also emerged a major political force and took 54 seats, 11 more than it won in the 2018 elections.
How is a majority determined in Pakistan?
With 266 seats up for grabs in the general elections, a simple majority of 134 is needed for any political party to form a government in the center.
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Political Consultation Underway to Form Government
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that contacts and talks have begun with other parties including PPP and MQM-P to form governments at center and provinces. In a statement, she said the mandate of all political parties would need to be respected. Aurangzeb stated that the PML-N would not exclude “other parties” from the process of forming government since they were a “political reality”. She also said that her party also reviewing reasons behind losses in strongholds the elections.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former foreign minister and PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that they have not had any official talks with PML-N, the PTI or any other parties on a possible coalition after recent elections. According to a private News channel, he admitted that his party would not be in position to form a government by itself.
He said that the central executive committee (CEC) of PPP had named him as the Prime Minister candidate. He further said, “if we have to change that another meeting needs to be called and we will decide on how to move forward.”
Responding to a question regarding meetings with different political parties including PML-N, the former Foreign Minister said that he is not in position to confirm any such meetings. He added that they will be in a position to hold talks with others after all the results are in front of them.
