Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Thursday decided to abstain from the election of prime minister scheduled to be held today (Friday) in the wake of differences with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz over nomination of President PML-N Shahbaz Sharif for the coveted slot. According to the sources in the party, the decision was taken at a consultative meeting of the PPP leaders held here at the Zardari's House. The meeting was jointly chaired by Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
The sources said the PPP has decided not to support the opposition's joint candidate for the prime minister slot. They said that the PPP members will abstain from the process for the election of the prime minister.
Shahbaz will face Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan for the election of prime minister. Both the parties have been struggling to consolidate their positions ahead of the vote that will be held on a division basis in the National Assembly.
The PML-N is the largest opposition party in the National Assembly with 81 seats, followed by PPP with 54 seats, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) with 15 seats, and Awami National Party with one seat. It is pertinent to mention here that Jamaat-e-Islami, that is a component of the MMA, has already decided to abstain from the election of the prime minister.
The PTI, which emerged as the leading party in July 25 general election, appears to be in a comfortable position to elect its chairman as the next prime minister of the country.
The PTI has a total of 151 members in the National Assembly while its allies collectively have 24 members including Pakistan Muslim League with 3 seats, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (7 seats), Grand Democratic Alliance (3 seats), Awami Muslim League and Jamhoori Wattan Party (one seat each), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (4 seats) and Balochistan Awami Party (5 seats).
There are four independent lawmakers in the National Assembly and three out of them including Muhammad Aslam Bhootani, Mohammad Ali and Mohsin Javed have assured their support to the PTI candidate in the election for the prime minister.
Speaking to media persons, Central Information Secretary PTI Fawad Chaudhry claimed that the party's nominee for the slot of premiership will get between 180 and 184 votes in the election. On Wednesday, in the election of speaker and deputy speaker, the PTI secured 176 and 183 votes respectively. The nomination papers of Khan and Shahbaz were accepted on Thursday.
According to the National Assembly Secretariat, for the election of the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan, the nomination papers of two members of the National Assembly have been filed so far.
The secretary National Assembly accepted the nomination papers after the process of scrutiny here on Thursday. In the nomination papers, the PTI chairman's proposer is Sheikh Rasheed while his seconder is Fakhar Imam. Shahbaz Sharif's nomination papers were submitted by party leaders Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Dr Darshan.
A simple majority of votes in 342-member House is required for the election of prime minister. According to Clause 4 of Article 91 of the Constitution, "The Prime Minister shall be elected by the votes of the majority of the total membership of National Assembly: provided that, if no member secures such majority in the first poll, a second poll shall be held between the members who secure the two highest numbers of votes in the first poll and the member who secures a majority of votes of the members present and voting shall be declared to have been elected as prime minister:
"Provided further if the number of votes secured by two or more members securing the highest number of votes is equal, further poll shall be held between them until one of them secures a majority of votes of the members present and voting." The session of the National Assembly would be held on Friday (today) at 3:30pm for the election of leader of the house.
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