The ongoing negotiations between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) entered their fifth round on Monday, held at Ishaq Dar’s residence in Islamabad’s ministerial enclave. Despite high expectations, the separate sittings of the PPP and PML-N committees failed to yield significant agreements, prompting both sides to adjourn and schedule a further round of talks for the following Tuesday afternoon.
Key figures from the PPP, including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Murad Ali Shah, and Nadeem Afzal Chan, engaged in discussions. However, contrary to anticipations, no concrete agreements were reached, leading to a sense of uncertainty surrounding the formation of the government.
In the recently concluded National Assembly elections, PML-N emerged as the largest group after independents, securing 75 seats. Meanwhile, the PPP secured the third position with 54 seats. The PPP has been explicit in its stance, indicating that it will refrain from seeking ministries or proposing a candidate for the prime ministerial position. However, Bilawal Bhutto announced on Sunday that Asif Zardari would be the party’s nominee for the presidency.
Simultaneously, discussions between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and PML-N were underway. A delegation from MQM, consisting of Kamran Tessori, Farooq Sattar, and Musafa Kamal, met with Ishaq Dar at his residence. The MQM presented constitutional amendments it desired and offered suggestions regarding the formation of the government. Notably, the MQM emphasized the importance of devolving powers to the grassroots level to enhance the lives of ordinary citizens.
While the talks concluded without immediate breakthroughs, both sides expressed a commitment to continuing the dialogue on government formation in the coming days. The evolving political landscape in Pakistan adds an air of anticipation as these negotiations unfold, shaping the direction of the nation’s governance.
