Pakistan's Path To PM: Shehbaz Sharif Signals Roller Coaster Ride, What It Means For India

In a significant political development in Pakistan, an agreement has been reached between two major parties, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to form a coalition government.

The announcement was made late Tuesday night, with the PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and the PML-N, led by three-time Premier Nawaz Sharif, reaching a power-sharing agreement.

Photo Credit: PTI

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Under the terms of the agreement, the PPP will provide conditional support, reviewing decisions on a case-by-case basis. The PPP will refrain from assuming cabinet positions but will pledge its support to the PML-N's prime minister candidate, Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, who is currently incarcerated on corruption charges.

Additionally, the PPP will seek key offices such as president, chairman of the upper house of parliament, and governors in two of the four provinces, according to Faisal Karim Kundi, the PPP's secretary of information. With the PML-N securing 79 seats and the PPP obtaining 54 seats in the 342-member parliament, the coalition surpasses the simple majority threshold of 172 seats required to form a government.

Smaller parties such as the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Balochistan National Party (BNP) are expected to join the coalition. Meanwhile, candidates backed by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 93 seats but lack the numbers to form a government. Khan and his party have contested the election results, alleging widespread rigging.

The conditional support provided by the PPP presents a challenge for the incoming government, particularly as it navigates a financial crisis and faces a robust opposition bloc led by supporters of Imran Khan. Political commentator Ayesha Siddiqa anticipates a "roller coaster" journey for the coalition government.

One of the coalition's primary tasks will be to agree on critical fiscal tightening measures under a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, set to expire in March. Additionally, contentious issues such as the privatization of state-owned enterprises, including the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), may pose challenges, with differing stances between the PPP and the PML-N.

Parliament is scheduled to elect the prime minister on February 25, followed by the president and the chairman of the senate. However, the political landscape remains tense, with the PTI disputing the election results and demanding the resignation of the Election Commission's head.

Amidst these developments, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has highlighted the importance of improving relations with neighbouring countries, including India and Afghanistan. Despite challenges, Nawaz expressed optimism for better relations, emphasizing the need to strengthen ties with regional partners.