Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), on Monday confirmed that his father Asif Ali Zardari will be the presidential candidate. He also appeared to attack Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and the Pakistan Army in a victory speech to party workers in Karachi.
“PPP won on Form 45 not form 47. Those who can’t win elections without rigging are also protesting,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, in an apparent jibe at the PML-N and the Pakistan Army.
People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that Shehbaz Sharif will be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan and Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP chief, will be the next President.
Bilawal also told his supporters that he refused the power sharing formula suggested by the PML-N.
“(The) PML-N wanted to take the prime minister’s role for the first three years and wanted to give two years to us but I refused. We will support them but without taking any ministry,” Bilawal said.
“Asif Ali Zardari will be PPP’s candidate for Pakistan president and (he) will take care of all the people of this country. I will (continue to) do politics and take care of the people of Pakistan (from the) parliament,” the PPP chairman said.
The PPP chairman said he will become the prime minister of Pakistan only after he receives a full mandate from the people. “If I become PM, I will become PM only after your full mandate,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said.
He also said that PPP’s support to the PML-N is conditional and the party will seek rights of the people of Baloch and Sindh in return. “Our support to PML-N is conditional and we will seek the rights of the people of Baloch and Sindh in return. Once Zardari will be in the President House he will ensure a deal for all who are deprived,” he further added.
People familiar with the developments said that Asif Ali Zardari also wants his son to learn as a lawmaker before taking on the role of a prime minister.
CNN-News18 first reported that Shehbaz Sharif will be Pakistan’s next prime minister and Asif Ali Zardari will be the new president. The coveted role of the chief minister of Punjab province will go to Mariyam Aurangzeb, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter.
People close to Nawaz Sharif familiar with the developments said that the next government is similar to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition but this time PPP is supporting from outside the government.
People within the PML-N familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that Nawaz Sharif is not keen to become the prime minister for the fourth time in present circumstances.
They said the establishment wants a government under Shehbaz backed by Zardari to run economic programs and bring investments to the country and they will be uncomfortable with a government led by Nawaz Sharif as he is anti-Pakistan Army. They said the Pakistani Army sees Shehbaz as a great chief executive for the government and will deliver on expected lines.
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