It would be unwise to hand over government to another party, says Khawaja Asif.
Senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has firmly rejected rumors suggesting that party chief Nawaz Sharif harbors dissatisfaction over the recent election results, which saw PML-N fall short of securing a majority in the polls held on February 8th.
Asif’s remarks came during an appearance on Geo News, amidst a flurry of political activity both in Islamabad and Lahore, where key stakeholders are engaged in discussions regarding the formation of a coalition government at the national level.
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The Election Commission of Pakistan has now released the full results, revealing that the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan leads with over 90 seats, followed closely by PML-N with 75 seats.
Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) secured 54 seats, while Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) clinched 17 seats.
However, the fractured mandate makes it challenging for any single party to secure the 169 seats necessary to claim the prime ministerial slot in the 336-member house.
In his conversation with Geo News anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada, Asif emphatically stated that Nawaz Sharif remains unfazed by the election outcome.
He acknowledged the party’s deficiencies but assured that they are committed to fulfilling their promise of providing relief to the masses once in government.
Asif criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for their habit of contesting election results.
He also noted that the PPP has accepted the election results. Responding to inquiries, Asif dismissed any suggestions of offering bribes to independent candidates, stating that they were joining PML-N of their own volition.
When questioned about discussions surrounding a power-sharing arrangement between PPP and PML-N, Asif expressed his opposition to the idea.
He argued that the challenges ahead over the next three years would only compound the difficulties faced by the common people, making it unwise to hand over the government to another party after achieving stability.
Asserting PML-N’s majority, Asif stressed that it is their right to have their candidate in the Prime Minister’s Office, expressing renewed confidence in Nawaz Sharif’s leadership.
Regarding Nawaz Sharif’s recent meeting with MQM-P, Asif described it as positive and gave assurances that Karachi’s issues would be addressed.
The political landscape in Pakistan remains dynamic as negotiations continue, and stakeholders strategize their next moves in the formation of the government.
