Coalition deal finalised, Shehbaz Sharif set to be Pakistan PM

Islamabad/Lahore, February 14

A day after being nominated by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), 72-year-old Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, is very likely to become Pakistan’s next PM as a post-poll alliance of leading political parties, led by them, struck a deal to form a coalition government. The last week’s elections produced a split mandate. The surprise move means the party of Imran Khan will not be in power, despite independent candidates backed by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) winning the maximum number of seats in the February 8 elections marred by allegations of rigging.

Nawaz not quitting active politics: Maryam

• After Nawaz nominated Shehbaz for the PM’s post, Maryam Nawaz rebuffed the impression that he has quit active politics
• Nawaz will participate in active politics and also oversee the PML-N-led governments in Punjab and at the Centre, she said

Earlier, Shehbaz along with Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan Peoples Party, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) met at the residence of Shujaat Hussain of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for a consultative meeting and agreed on government formation. “Today we have united to tell the nation that we all accept the split mandate. I am thankful to Zardari and Bilawal (Bhutto) that they decided for their party to vote for the PML-N,” he said.

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said PML-N senior vice president Maryam Nawaz, considered the political heir of Nawaz Sharif, had been nominated for the post of the CM of Punjab province.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said he was withdrawing his bid to become the PM and his party would support the PML-N candidate for the top post.

Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz sought to rebuff the impression that her father has quit active politics.

At the same time, Imran Khan’s party alleged that the mandate of the people had been “stolen in the dark of the night”.