As the PML-N navigates the complexities of government formation, the party’s apprehension about assuming sole leadership is palpable. Ahsan Iqbal, former planning minister, has voiced a pressing need for the PPP to join the coalition and contribute to governance, to avoid PML-N being left to manage alone.
PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira has indicated that the allocation of constitutional positions is under discussion, with many decisions already finalized, leaving little space for new negotiations.
Amidst warnings from the establishment about the risks of indecision in forming the government, both PML-N and PPP have shown a reluctance to compromise their stances. Yet, there’s a shared optimism for a friendly resolution, with both parties denying any deep-rooted discord.
Ahsan Iqbal expresses the PML-N’s reluctance to bear the full weight of central governance. The party seeks a more active role for the PPP, including ministerial leadership, to ensure shared responsibility in steering the government.
The PML-N’s stance on the possibility of the PPP leading the government remains ambiguous, with Iqbal deferring a clear stance until post-meeting outcomes. He suggests that leading should be reserved for the numerically stronger PML-N or PTI candidates, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the current system’s stability.
On the PPP’s side, Qamar Zaman Kaira dismisses claims of the party’s demand for Punjab ministries and notes the PPP’s rejection of a shared prime ministership as a testament to their democratic commitment. He addresses concerns about PPP’s steadfastness in the coalition, reminding that the decision to form a PML-N led government was not theirs.
A PPP insider acknowledges the pressure from PML-N to accept their proposition, hinting at possible influence from external entities. Despite this, the source maintains that the PPP will hold firm in negotiations, also noting the potential, albeit publicly denied, benefit of securing the prime ministership for their party.
