On Monday, a delegation from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) met with President Dr. Arif Alvi. PTI representatives Raoof Hassan and Umer Niazi highlighted the issues to Dr. Alvi, specifically pointing out irregularities in the February 8 polls. The delegation insisted that the election results, as documented in Form-45 across various constituencies, accurately depicted the electoral outcomes despite facing considerable challenges.
Moreover, they underscored the resilience of PTI amidst pressure, unlawful arrests, and the confiscation of electoral symbols. Despite these hurdles, the party secured significant public support and trust in the general elections. This assertion comes amid significant political shifts, including high-profile departures from politics by figures such as Tareen and Khattak and Siraj’s resignation as the JI chief. The PTI’s independent candidates notably outshone their competitors, leading to an anticipation of government formation led by PTI.
Read: Jahangir Tareen Quits Politics
Read: Hafiz Naeemur Rehman Resigns from Sindh Assembly Seat Citing Electoral Manipulation
Path to Government Formation
The process for establishing a new government is constitutionally mandated to commence with the President’s call for a National Assembly session. This session, aimed at electing the speaker, deputy speaker, and house leader, must convene by February 29. The Constitution stipulates three weeks post-election for this gathering. However, an earlier meeting is permissible under certain conditions, such as a party achieving a two-thirds majority or agreement on a coalition government.
The general elections witnessed a voter turnout of approximately 47%, with around 60 million out of 129 million eligible voters participating. PTI-backed independents led the seat count with 101 victories, surpassing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), securing 75 and 54 seats, respectively. The remaining seats were distributed among various parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which won 17 seats.
In a subsequent news conference, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated that President Alvi is expected to invite PTI to form the government following their majority win in the National Assembly. Gohar advocated for respect towards the public mandate, expressing the party’s intention to move forward and establish a government following constitutional and legal frameworks.
