Pakistan People's Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari confirmed that his father, Asif Ali Zardari, would be the party's candidate for the presidential election, Dawn reported.
Speaking at a meeting in Thatta – without naming names – Bilawal said the party had decided that it would move forward with those who had come to them and asked for their votes.
'We will not take over ministries from them. We won't do that [seek] our benefit, but that of the people, and we will ensure that democracy is saved.
“To extinguish the fire spreading in the country, we have decided that Asif Ali Zardari will be our candidate for the presidential elections. And when he assumes the post, he will extinguish this fire, save the Center and for the four provinces,” he said.
Bilawal's comments come a day after talks between the PPP and PML-N remained inconclusive, although both sides claimed “significant progress” had been made in the talks.
Both parties decided to meet again on Monday to finalize the coalition government's power-sharing formula.
A brief announcement by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after the meeting said “significant progress” had been made in talks with both sides, stressing the need for a “strong democratic government”.
In the previous meeting on Thursday, representatives of both parties sought more time to review the proposals discussed in the first meeting.
According to Dawn, the PPP has assured PML-N of its support in government formation and election of the next Prime Minister, on the condition that in return it will be given key constitutional offices, including that of the President.
The PPP has also announced that the party will not include any ministries in the federal cabinet despite its support to the PML-N at the Centre.
During his speech, Bilawal said that following the results of the February 8 elections, he had no right to run for the Prime Minister's seat. He went on to say that “Pakistan was on fire” and that the PPP had decided to “put out this fire”.
Bilawal further said that the PPP did not want a federal ministry or premiership. “We just want to solve people's problems,” he said.
“If we have to give our vote to anyone as Prime Minister, we will ensure that we give the flood victims in Sindh and Balochistan their rights,” Dawn quoted him as saying.
Later, Bilawal said in a post on
“We have reservations about these elections and will take them to the appropriate forums, and we believe the way forward is for all political parties to put aside their personal interests for the interests of the people of Pakistan,” he said.
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This story was published via wire agency without modifications to the text. Only the headline has changed.
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Published: Feb 19, 2024 06:34 IST