ISLAMABAD – PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PML (N) President Shehbaz Sharif are vying for the top slot of the leader of the house in the National Assembly, whose nomination papers have been approved after scrutiny on Thursday.
Nomination papers on their behalf were submitted by their party leaders in the National Assembly secretariat on Wednesday.
For the election of the 22nd prime minister of the country, the nomination papers of two Members of the National Assembly have been filed so far, said the NA Secretariat.
The election for the office will be held on Friday (tomorrow), for which the session of the National Assembly has already been summoned at 3.30 in the afternoon.
The election shall be through division as enshrined in the rules of procedures and conduct of the National Assembly 2007.
PPP decides not to vote in PM election
On the other hand, the rift between two major opposition parties Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz has widened, as PPP has shown reluctance to vote for PML N’s Prime Ministerial candidate Shehbaz Sharif.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the PPP has decided to remain politically indifferent in the National Assembly elections.
According to sources, the PPP will attend the NA session on Friday, however, it will refrain from partaking in the election process.
The PPP will not vote for either PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif or PTI’s Imran for the position of prime minister.
The National Assembly will elect the country’s 22nd prime minister on Friday. Earlier today, nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif were accepted.
Earlier, in a conversation with reporters in capital Islamabad today, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah said his party has apprised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of its reservations over PML N candidate for prime ministership.
Shah said if the PML-N does not change its PM candidate, then the PPP will make a decision accordingly.
“We have told PML-N of our reservations, we are working on [resolving it]. [But] if they don’t change their candidate then we will [make our own] decision,” he said.
Numbers game
With the loss of the PPP (54 seats), Shehbaz Sharif will now face an almost impossible task to be elected as prime minister. The PML-N has 81 seats in the National Assembly and it is yet unclear if the party will still be supported by the MMA (15 seats) and ANP (1 seat).
On the other hand, Imran Khan’s PTI has 151 seats and with the support of its allies, the total stands at 175 which is more than the required simple majority.
On Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan submitted his nomination papers for the slot of Prime Minister.
