Asif Ali Zardari tipped to become Pakistan President as PPP, PML-N enter into alliance: Media

Islamabad, February 15

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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) top leader Asif Ali Zardari is likely to be Pakistan’s next president, a second term for him after his party agreed to ally with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to form a government at the Centre, according to media reports here.

“If the situation remains unchanged, the country will see the PML-N’s prime minister and the PPP’s president,” The News International reported on Wednesday, quoting sources amid talks of a quid pro quo arrangement between the PML-N and PPP.

After the February 8 polls produced a split mandate, there has been no government in place in the country for almost a week now. With none of the major parties gaining a clear majority, Pakistan is staring at a coalition government.

As part of the PML-N and PPP alliance, Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of former premier Nawaz Sharif, is expected to become Pakistan’s next prime minister.

The coming together of these two parties meant that the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) would not be able to assume power despite the independent candidates it backed winning the maximum number of seats in the National Assembly.

PPP president Zardari, 68, served as the President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013.

The current Pakistan President Arif Alvi is scheduled to relinquish his post later this month.