Islamabad: The PML-N has formally nominated its chief Nawaz Sharif for the office of Prime Minister after the party moved towards a simple majority in the 342 member National Assembly or Pakistan’s lower house of parliament.
The final approval for Sharif’s nomination will be made during a meeting of the PML-N’s parliamentary committee before the start of the first session of the new National Assembly.
The PML-N is all set to form government after emerging the single largest party in the National Assembly during the May 11 general election.
The party won 126 of 272 directly elected seats in the lower house of parliament.
Eighteen independent candidates recently joined the PML-N, taking its tally of directly elected seats to 144. The PML-N will be allocated 32 reserved seats for women and five reserved seats for non-Muslims.
This will give it 181 seats in the 342-member House, or 10 seats more than the 171 required for a simple majority.
The PML-N’s strength in the National Assembly could increase further as several parties – including the PML-F, National People’s Party and National Party – are expected to enter into an alliance with it.
The new Prime Minister will be formally elected during the first session of the new National Assembly, which is expected to be summoned on June 1.
The newly elected lawmakers will take their oath on the first day of the session, and this will be followed by the election of the Speaker and the Leader of the House or Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, hectic consultations are continuing within the PML-N on selecting candidates for key portfolios like foreign affairs, finance, interior, defence and power.
Sources said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is initially expected to retain the foreign affairs and defence portfolios with himself.
Senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has expressed an interest in the foreign affairs portfolio but his candidature has been opposed by other leaders.
Lt Gen (retired) Abdul Qadir Baloch is among those being considered for the post of Interior Minister.
Former Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz is widely considered a front-runner for the post of advisor to the premier on
foreign affairs.
However, some sources said Aziz had expressed an interest in becoming President after the current incumbent, Asif Ali Zardari, completes his term in September.
Senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar has been chosen for the post of Finance Minister while Khwaja Asif is expected to become Energy Minister after the ministries of power and petroleum are clubbed into a single portfolio.
Nawaz Sharif’s younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, formally nominated for the post of Chief Minister of Punjab, is expected to assist Asif in handling Pakistan’s energy crisis, which has resulted in power cuts of up to 20 hours in some parts of the country.
