Despite days-long consultations between the two major parties of the country, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to back Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) candidate for the prime minister’s slot but will not be a part of the federal government.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made the major announcement during a news conference in Islamabad after the Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) session on Tuesday, saying that he was withdrawing from the candidacy for prime minister’s post as “the PPP doesn’t have the mandate to form the federal government”.
“It is a fact that the PPP does not have a mandate to form the federal government and due to that I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the prime minister of Pakistan,” said the 35-year-old politician, who ran the 2024 general election for the country’s top slot.
The young politician said that only the PML-N had invited the PPP to form a coalition government.
As the PPP is not in a position to form the government in the Centre, Bilawal said, it would not be interested in taking federal ministries in the setup.
انشاء ﷲ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی اپنے لیئے نہیں بلکہ اس ملک کی خاطر یہ یقینی بنائے گی کہ حکومت سازی کا عمل مکمل ہو اور اس سے سیاسی استحکام قائم ہو۔
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/YcQDe7iGy8— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) February 13, 2024
“PPP won’t be a part of a government like PDM II.
“We don’t want to see chaos in the country or perpetual crisis in the country,” he said while setting aside the perception of re-election.
Bilawal went on to say that the PPP has many complaints and objections regarding the recently held general elections. He said that they would form a committee, which would engage with other political parties and ensure that all their “reservations are addressed”.
