Bilawal Bhutto announces to back PML-N candidate for PM’s slot but won’t become part of govt in Centre

ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (SABAH): Despite days-long consultations between the two major parties of the country, the Pakistan People’s 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.

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. “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.

Instead of inclusion in the PML-N’s government, Bilawal Bhutto said his party will seek key posts like Senate chairman and NA speaker, as it has the right to seek positions on the constitutional posts.

Revealing the reason behind backing the rival party’s candidate for the coveted post, Bilawal said that the PPP decided to support the PML-N’s candidate for the premiership to ensure political instability in the country.

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”. “We want the process of government formation to move ahead.”

Referring to his decision to withdraw from the candidacy for the prime minister’s post, Bilawal said that it may not be in his favour “but it is love with Pakistan”. “If the people of the country had given me the mandate, I would ask for the PM’s post,” he said.

The PPP chairman, however, asserted that the situation would become difficult again if PML-N’s candidate engages in “old politics”.

Bilawal then called on all the political parties to worry about Pakistan as well instead of just themselves.

He further said that the PPP would try to form governments in Sindh and Balochistan.

He further highlighted now that the PTI had refused to form a coalition with the PPP which left the PML-N as the only party that had invited the PPP to join the government. He clarified that his party would not take share in the federal cabinet.

“PPP has decided to form a committee to engage with other political parties for the formation of government and political stability in the country,” said the PPP leader.

“The PPP does not want to see political chaos in the country. The PPP has decided that we ran this election on a manifesto based on issues of public importance.”

As for the presidential candidate, Bilawal Bhutto said he would like to see his father Asif Ali Zardari become the president again as he did well in the past. In response to a question, Bilawal said all political forces needed to think about the country and end the politics of division.