Sunday, May 19, 2013
Islamabad: The election-winning Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party will hold a meeting of its newly elected federal lawmakers on Monday to discuss formation of its government to rule the country for the next five years.
Party officials said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister in waiting, would chair the meeting to be held in Lahore, capital of Punjab province.
PML-N won people’s mandate in the May 11 general election to form governments at the Centre and in Punjab, the most populous province of the country.
It is also in a position to form a coalition government with other parties in Balochistan, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) of Imran Khan is poised to rule Khyber Pakthunkhwa province and the Pakistan People’s Party (PTI) will govern Sindh.
Shahbaz Sharif, younger brother of the PML-N chief, held consultations in Quetta, capital of Balochistan, on Sunday with Pakthtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) Nagniid Jgab Acgajzau on forming government in the province.
Later, they told a news conference in Quetta their parties, along with the National Party, would be part of a new government in Balochistan and would choose a chief minister with consensus.
The Election Commission of Paksitan (ECP) said it would issue a notification about successful candidates of the general election on Wednesday, after which President Asif Ali Zardari can summon first session of the new national assembly not later than June 1.
According to the ECP independent parliamentarians-elect can join any political party by 25th of this month and they will have to submit a certificate in this regard. Those who fail to do so, will remain independent during the five-year tenure of the assembly.
On the basis of final tally of seats obtained by political parties, the ECP will decide about 70 reserved seats for women and minorities in the 342-member national assembly, giving shares to parties according to system of proportional representation.
Under the constitution, the first session of the national assembly has to be held not later than the 21st day after the election day unless summoned sooner by the president.
PML-N wants to put in place its government promptly for preparation of next national budget which should be passed by the national assembly before the new financial year beginning from July.
Many in the party reportedly prefer induction of PML-N government on May 28, the anniversary of nuclear weapon tests by Pakistan in 1998 when Nawaz Sharif was prime minister, in response to nuclear explosions by India.
By Mohsin Ali?Correspondent
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
