ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (NNI): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of becoming part of any coalition government, saying that his party will vote for prime minister candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) but sit in opposition.
“The PPP has decided that we are unable or not in a position to join federal government ourselves, nor are we interested in taking ministries in such a setup,” the party chairman said while addressing a press conference following a two-day long Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting.
Bilawal Bhutto acknowledged that the reality was that his party does not have a mandate to form a government in the Centre. “Due to this, I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the prime minister of Pakistan,” he said, noting that PML-N and the independents have greater numbers.
He said that two other groups, Independents and Pakistan Muslim League-N, have a majority in this regard and that PPP will support them if they agree to work for the country’s stability and democracy.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had refused to form a coalition with the PPP which left the PML-N as the only party that had invited the PPP to join the government.
“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has refused to hold talks with PPP, leaving PPP with the only option of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),” he said.
Bilawal said he was not the candidate of the premiership as his party does not have mandate to form the federal government, however, Asif ALi Zadari will be candidate for the presidency once again.
He said PTI was still taking undemocratic decisions. Bilawal said PPP will try to form government in Sindh and Balochistan and will cooperate in budget, legislation and other matters in the national assembly.
He said PPP will bring a candidate for President, Chairman Senate and Speaker National Assembly.
He said that PPP is not interested in increasing political tension in the country, but rather wants to take Pakistan out of the crisis.
He said that the time has come once again for PPP to raise the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khape’, meaning ‘Pakistan lives’.
The PPP Chairman said they will try to form a stable government as people do not want more political instability and chaos.
He said he cannot present himself as Prime Minister and will vote for the Prime Minister’s candidate but will not be part of the government.
He said the PPP is forming a committee which will contact other political parties. He said they will accept the election results in the wider national interest.
Bilawal said that Pakistan is facing a political, economic and environmental crisis and that his party will cooperate with the other parties on issue-to-issue basis.
He said that PPP has decided to establish a committee for negotiations with other parties and that they want the issue of government formation to move forward. He also said that PPP will try to take the country out of this crisis and end the speculation.
He said that his party’s leaders have raised many complaints regarding rigging in Punjab and that the leaders of Punjab had concerns that their problems have not been solved in the last eighteen months.
He said that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of PPP has received complaints regarding the level playing field, rigging and irregularities in the general election.
He said that despite these reservations, PPP will accept the results of the general election and will move forward by pointing out these shortcomings together with the political parties.
He said if they do not support any party, the country will have to go for elections again and that will lead to further political chaos.
He said no one got a clear mandate in the elections and no one can form a government alone.
Earlier in the day, it was reported that senior PPP leadership advised party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari against forming a coalition government with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and sitting in opposition.
Sources said that majority of the committee members proposed to sit in opposition, rather than forming a coalition government. Ostensibly, a strong coalition government will not be formed, the participants suggested.
The CEC members were of the view that PPP should sit in the opposition by respecting the mandate of independent candidates – who according to ECP election 2024 results were in lead in National Assembly.
The participants dubbed making PPP’s prime minister a ‘political loss’, sources claimed, adding that some also proposed to hold talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) instead of PML-N.
Meanwhile, some CEC members suggested to become part of the government on getting important positions including the premiership. If Bilawal becomes prime ministership and PPP secures important ministries, the party can show his ability to deliver, sources quoted meeting participants as saying.
Earlier, PML-N ‘offered’ presidency, NA speakership and Senate chairmanship to Pakistan People’s Party, to get support for the formation of governments in the centre and Punjab, ARY News reported, citing sources.
Sources claimed that PML-N has offered three constitutional positions to the PPP to gain its support in the centre and Punjab. PPP was offered positions of president, speaker National Assembly and Senate chairman, while PML-N also agreed to give Balochistan CM ship to the Bilawal-led party. NNI
