Pakistan Elections: Nawaz Sharif to Give Victory Speech, in Touch with Independents, PML-N Claims

Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former Pakistan prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, claimed her father will deliver a victory speech from the party headquarters and is in touch with the independent candidates who are mostly supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

“As opposed to the false perception deliberately built by a section of media last night, PML-N, Alhamdulillah (is) emerging as the single largest party in the centre and Punjab. Some results awaited. MNS will head to PML-N HQ for the victory speech as soon as the final results are received. Insha’Allah. Stay tuned,” PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz wrote on social media site X.

Ishaq Dar, the former finance minister and senior PML-N leader, said that the independent candidates, who are emerging victorious in the 2024 general elections, are in touch with the PML-N. “The independents have contacted us and they will join any party in the next 72 hours as per the Constitution. If independents did not join any political party then they would lose reserved seats. The independents are not even close to PML-N’s success in Punjab,” Ishaq Dar was quoted as saying by GeoNews.

He clarified that the PML-N cannot force the independents to choose them and highlighted that candidates who are willing to join their party are contacting PML-N leaders.

“According to the results that were announced till 3am in the night, the PML-N was in the lead with more seats. And even when the results were slow, the PML-N was ahead,” Dar claimed. “We are hopeful to form a government in the centre and Punjab and if someone else forms a government, then we will accept it as well,” he further added.

He also claimed that the party has the majority in Punjab province and won a majority of the National Assembly seats in the elections. Dar, however, citing PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, said that PML-N would still join hands with other parties, even if it has a majority but Nawaz Sharif on polling day said he would not form a coalition government and seek single-party rule.