ISLAMABAD: Amid prevailing political uncertainty regarding the formation of government in the Centre, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sarfraz Bugti Sunday claimed that the party would form its government in Balochistan with the support of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

"The PML-N would be our ally in Balochistan [as it has] given us a clear signal to form our government [in the province]," Bugti said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with party's parliamentary committee members Haji Malik Shah and Sardar Sarbuland Khan.

His remarks come as the Bilawal Bhutto-led party is in pole position to form its government in the country's western province after securing 11 seats in the 51-member provincial assembly, whereas the PML-N bagged 10 seats.

Despite engaging in a war of words in the run-up to the elections, both parties, who have previously served as close allies during the Pakistan Democratic Movement's government, are on the way to once again emerge as key political stakeholders following the PPP's announcement to back the PML-N's candidate for the prime minister's post after none of the two parties managed to secure a simple majority in the polls.

The political landscape in Pakistan has been facing a rather unusual uncertainty after none of the parties, including the PPP, PML-N and PTI-affiliated candidates managed to secure a simple majority in the National Assembly in the February 8 general elections.

Attempts have been underway by all the major political stakeholders to rope in independent candidates and forge alliances to reach the necessary 169 seats in the 336-member lower house of parliament after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates emerged as the largest group by winning more than 90 NA seats followed by the PML-N PPP's 75 and 54 seats, respectively.

Abstaining from giving a precise timeline on the PPP's future strategy, Bugti said that the party would "soon" finalise the government-related matters. "[We] will soon form our government with our allies," he said while stressing that the party has sufficient numbers but hasn't decided on its candidate for the chief minister post.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 19 2024

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