- By Sean Seddon and Farhat Javed, BBC Urdu
- BBC News
February 20, 2024
Updated 3 hours ago
Image source: Getty Images
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The PMLN failed to win the February 8 elections but has reached an agreement to bring it back to power
Two political parties in Pakistan have reached a formal agreement to form a new government after controversial elections.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) will be supported by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in a new government, they jointly announced.
Both parties won fewer seats on February 8 than candidates loyal to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
On X, Mr Khan's PTI party branded the coalition “mandate thieves”.
His movement claims the vote was rigged to keep his supporters from power.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardaro, chairman of the PPP, said: “The aim of the coalition is to address the economic crisis in the country.”
Former prime minister and PMLN president Shahbaz Sharif promised “joint measures to address economic and other challenges.”
The agreement means Mr Sharif will become prime minister for a second time with the support of the junior coalition partner, while the PPP's Asif Ali Zardari will be the coalition's candidate for president – a post he previously held.
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Former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is on track to return to office after reaching an agreement with a smaller party
The process to choose the prime minister includes a parliamentary vote expected at the end of February. A separate election to determine the next president will be held in the coming weeks.
It remains unclear who will take on other important government positions.
The disputed parliamentary elections earlier this month failed to produce a final result.
Although Mr Khan was behind bars and his candidates were forced to run as independents rather than under a single banner, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates emerged as the largest bloc in a shocking result.
However, its 93 seats in the National Assembly were not enough for the overall majority of 169 required to form a government.
This paved the way for the PMLN, led by another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to begin negotiations with the PPP.
The PMLN won 75 seats, while the PPP came third with 54 – but with the likely support of smaller parties and once the seats reserved for women and representatives of religious minorities are distributed, the coalition partners in parliament will have enough support to to govern.
The PTI is challenging the result in court and its supporters have staged protests across the country.
Social media has been paralyzed across the country in recent days due to protests. Internet access watchdog group NetBlocks said access to X – formerly Twitter – remained restricted for many on Tuesday.