In the midst of ongoing political uncertainty surrounding the formation of the central government, Sarfraz Bugti, a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), asserted on Sunday that the party is set to establish its government in Balochistan with the support of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Bugti made this claim during a press conference in Islamabad, accompanied by the party’s parliamentary committee members Haji Malik Shah and Sardar Sarbuland Khan. Despite engaging in verbal clashes leading up to the elections, PPP and PML-N, former allies in the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s government, are now poised to emerge as key political players once again. This shift follows PPP’s announcement to support PML-N’s candidate for the prime minister’s post, given that neither party secured a simple majority in the polls.
The political landscape in Pakistan has been marked by unusual uncertainty after none of the major parties, including PPP, PML-N, and PTI-affiliated candidates, managed to secure a simple majority in the National Assembly during the February 8 general elections.
Efforts are underway by political stakeholders to secure independent candidates and form alliances to reach the necessary 169 seats in the 336-member lower house of parliament. PTI-backed candidates emerged as the largest group with over 90 NA seats, followed by PML-N with 75 and PPP with 54 seats.
Bugti did not provide a specific timeline for PPP’s future strategy but assured that the party would “soon” finalize government-related matters, emphasizing that they have sufficient numbers. However, a decision on the candidate for the chief minister post has not been made.
Addressing alleged rigging in the February 8 polls in Balochistan, Bugti stated that despite reservations about various seats, the party decided to accept the results in the country’s interest. Meanwhile, protests and road blockades led by Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), National Party, and Hazara Democratic Party are ongoing in response to perceived rigging. BNP leader Ghulam Nabi declared that the wheel-jam strike would continue until 5 pm, with multiple roads blocked across Balochistan.
