Pakistan Election 2024: Sharif, Bhutto-Zardari Pact Hints At Alliance; All Eyes On Imran Khan, Says Report

Following a meeting between Shehbaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto, and former president Asif Ali Zardari, it has been reported by Geo News that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have agreed to form a coalition government at the Centre and Punjab province.

Invitations were extended by Shehbaz Sharif to work together for Pakistan. As the divisive elections in Pakistan neared completion on Saturday, with the tardy vote-counting process, no clear victor has emerged, suggesting that the elusive political stability for India's cash-strapped neighbor may still be a distant dream.

Coalitions, AI messages, Pakistan political parties strive to win

The general elections were held on Thursday, and the counting began soon after the polling ended at 5 pm with the hope that the majority of 265 contested seats would be available by Friday morning. According to Geo News, PPP top leaders were met by former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, brother of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, at the residence of caretaker Punjab chief minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Party sources informed the news portal that the future government formation was discussed by Shehbaz Sharif with Zardari and Nawaz Sharif's message was also conveyed. During the 45-minute meeting, Shehbaz Sharif requested Bilawal Bhutto and his father Asif Ali Zardari to sit with the PML-N leadership for political and economic stability in Pakistan.

As per the report, both PPP leaders have been claimed to agree to form a government in Punjab and at the Centre, and both the parties will present their own views in the next meeting and finalize all matters regarding the power-sharing formula, including who will assume which office and where, with mutual consultation.

Earlier on Friday, Nawaz Sharif announced his intention to form a united government with the help of his former allies - PPP, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) after none of the contesting parties could secure a comfortable majority.

The army-backed PML-N took 71 and the PPP snapped up 53 - with minor parties taking the rest and 15 of the elected 266-seat National Assembly still to be announced. Meanwhile, the PML-N's "victory" in the general election was claimed by Nawaz Sharif in the backdrop of a precarious economy and the political crisis unleashed by Imran Khan's ouster from power.

In a charged speech in Lahore's Model Town, it was stated by Nawaz Sharif, "I have tasked Shehbaz Sharif to meet Fazlur Rehman, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Asif Ali Zardari today." He added that his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, and Ishaq Dar would hold meetings as part of the outreach efforts. Respecting the mandate of all parties and independent candidates, a hint was given by Nawaz Sharif at the formation of a 'unity government.'

Despite the trends not falling in their favor, confidence was maintained by PML-N leaders in forming the next government, asserting that the majority of seats have been secured by their candidates and the reins of the country are poised to be taken. Meanwhile, an AI-generated video released Saturday by the party of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has him claiming victory in the country's election.

Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) defied a months-long crackdown that crippled campaigning and forced candidates to run as independents in Thursday's vote, but their showing stunned observers. A slow counting process showed independents had won at least 99 seats -- 88 of them loyal to Imran Khan - by Saturday morning.