Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) premiership candidate, stated on Friday that he hopes to establish a unity government after his party “emerged victorious” in the February 8 general election.
“I have tasked Shehbaz Sharif to meet Fazlur Rehman, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Asif Ali Zardari today,” Nawaz addressed a packed crowd in Lahore’s Model Town, who had gathered to hear his “victory speech.”
However, as the results come in, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates are leading with more than 90 seats, with the PML-N trailing behind.
The party’s top leaders, on the other hand, claimed that their candidates had won a majority of the seats and would form the government at the centre.
“Alhamdulillah, the PML-N is the largest single party in the country today after the elections.”
The three-time former prime minister, who ended his self-imposed exile in October last year, asked all national institutions and politicians to play an active role in navigating the country out of the current challenges.
Referring to the country’s shaky economy, Nawaz stated, “At least ten years are required to bring stability to the country.”
He stated that it was the PML-N’s obligation to lead the country out of the crisis.
The PML-N supremo stated that they respect the mandate of all political parties and independent candidates and asked them to join the previous ruling party for the benefit of the country.”Our sole agenda is a prosperous Pakistan,” he went on to say.
The PML-N’s senior leader hinted at creating a collation government, saying that party President Shehbaz Sharif would meet PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, JUI-F Chief Fazalur Rehman, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and other leaders today.
Earlier in the day, PML-N leader Ishaq Dar stated that successful independents had approached his party and expressed a desire in joining it.
However, the PTI, which claims the most seats in the National Assembly, has ruled out forming a federal government coalition with the PML-N or Pakistan Peoples Party.
On February 8, Pakistan held its largest general election in history. Election results were expected to be completed a few hours later.
