ISLAMABAD: Three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Sunday reached a consensus for “political cooperation” between the two parties, the PML-N said in a joint statement, following a huddle between the two sides in the eastern city of Lahore.
The development comes after both Sharif and ex-premier Imran Khan claimed victory following Thursday’s national election, leading to uncertainty regarding formation of the next government in Pakistan that is grappling with multiple crises.
The possibility of a political stalemate in the country leading to delays in both reforms and crucial foreign funding has sparked a selloff in its international bonds and fueled fears of further economic misery for the South Asian country.
A prime ministerial candidate must demonstrate a simple majority of 169 seats in the 266-member National Assembly when the House convenes in the coming days, but since no party has secured a simple majority, negotiations are currently underway between different parties to form a coalition government in Islamabad.
“PPP’s [co-chairman] Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met PML-N’s delegation, led by former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif at Bilawal House in Lahore, reached a principled consensus on political cooperation between the PML-N and the PPP,” the PML-N said in the joint statement issued after the meeting.
During the meeting, it said, detailed discussions were held regarding the overall situation of the country and future cooperation.
The development came after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced final results from Thursday’s vote and independent candidates, most of them loyal to Khan, secured 101 parliamentary seats.
Sharif’s PML-N secured 75 seats, while the PPP bagged 54 seats in the National Assembly, lower house of Pakistan parliament. The rest of the seats went to smaller parties, except two seats out of which results were withheld on one and election was postponed on the other.
After Thursday’s vote presented no clear winner, political alliances have started brewing with the likelihood of the formation of a coalition government in the country. On Friday, Sharif also called on allied parties to form a coalition government after his PML-N party failed to win enough seats to rule alone.
In Sunday’s meeting in Lahore, members of the PML-N and the PPP agreed to “safeguard the country from political instability,” according to the PML-N statement.
“In the meeting, both parties consulted on the situation and discussed proposals,” it said. “The PPP leadership will put forward the PML-N’s proposals in its central executive committee meeting to be held on Monday.”
Earlier in the day, a PML-N delegation also discussed the situation after polls with members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in Lahore.
Sharif’s party, Bhutto-Zardari-led group agree on ‘political cooperation’ amid uncertainty after Pakistan polls
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Sharif’s party, Bhutto-Zardari-led group agree on ‘political cooperation’ amid uncertainty after Pakistan polls
- Negotiations underway among parties to form a coalition government in Islamabad after Thursday’s vote presents no clear winner
- Sharif’s PML-N won 75 seats and Bhutto-Zardari’s party has 54 seats, compared to 101 seats won by Khan-backed independent candidates
Pakistan concludes 60-hour joint military exercise featuring 19 states, including Saudi Arabia, US
- Exercise also featured participation from Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, says military’s media wing
- Says exercise is designed to enhance professional military skills through exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences
ISLAMABAD: A 60-hour-long joint military exercise organized by Pakistan’s army concluded this week at the eastern city of Kharian, featuring participation from 19 countries including Saudi Arabia and the US, the military’s media wing said.
The 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition is a 60-hour-long patrolling exercise, which the Pakistani military says is designed to enhance professional military skills through the exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences and best practices among participating teams.
The exercise was held from Feb. 5-9 in the semi-mountainous terrains of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, providing participants a “realistic and challenging operational environment.” Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the closing ceremony of the exercise on Monday and presented awards to participants.
“Over the years, PATS has evolved into a prestigious and highly competitive military exercise, recognized for promoting professional excellence and mutual learning among participating nations,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“The forum continues to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and understanding, while fostering camaraderie and team spirit in a demanding operational setting.”
This year’s exercise featured participants from 19 countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, USA and Uzbekistan, the ISPR said.
Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand attended the exercise as observers while 16 domestic teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy, along with observers from the Pakistan Air Force also participated in the event.
Munir appreciated participating teams for their “exceptional professionalism, physical and mental endurance, operational competence and high morale” displayed during the exercise, the military’s media wing said.
“He emphasized the importance of such multinational engagements in enhancing collective preparedness and adapting to the evolving character of modern warfare,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan routinely holds joint air, ground and sea exercises with regional countries and traditional allies to foster interoperability to counter threats to global peace.
