The party of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and its allies have announced they will jointly form a coalition government, ending the uncertainty since last week when no party won a simple majority in the nation's parliamentary elections.

The latest development came hours after the parties — all of them rivals of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan — met in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by the Pakistan People's Party of former president Asif Ali Zardari, and by Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League.

It also included the former leader's younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Mr Khan when he was ousted through a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022.

At a media conference with Mr Zardari and other politicians, Nawaz Sharif did not say who would be the joint choice for prime minister.Posted , updated 


Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be the nominee for Pakistan's next premier to lead the country's new coalition alliance, after national elections returned a hung parliament.

The party of Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and its allies have announced they will jointly form a coalition government, ending the uncertainty since last week when no party won a simple majority in the nation's parliamentary elections.

The latest development came hours after the parties — all of them rivals of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan — met in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by the Pakistan People's Party of former president Asif Ali Zardari, and by Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League.

It also included the former leader's younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Mr Khan when he was ousted through a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022.

However, it is widely believed that his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif would head the new government.

"We have decided that we will form the government jointly," Mr Zardari, the son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, told the media conference.

A spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League, Marriyum Aurangzeb, said the elder Sharif — a three-time prime minister — had nominated his younger brother for the prime ministership.

The Pakistan Muslim League party had been in talks with Mr Zardari and other allies after Thursday's election for the National Assembly or lower house of the parliament.

ABC