RAWALPINDI: Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto who led with largest single party in the recently held election to the Pakistan national assembly is all set to become the next prime minister of the country. If all goes well, she should assume office by Oct.19. Bhutto needs 109 seals to manage a bare majority in the 217member house. Her party’s present strength is 87. She is said to be negotiating with several small parties and independents. Mian Nawaz Sharif led Pakistan Muslim League got 72 seats in the national assembly and its leader staked claim to forming government but odds appear to be heavier against Mian Nawaz Sharif being successful in this respect. Bhutto’s allies include Pakistan Muslim League (J) of Hamid Nasir Chatha with six seats and JamaatiUlmaeIslam (Noorani) with 10 seats. She also banks on certain independents who normally lend support to a stronger candidate. While in the national assembly, the P.P.P. emerged as the largest party, in the crucial Punjab state Stale assembly; this honor went to Mian Nawaz Sharif’s party. The P.M.L. (Nawaz) won 106 out of 240 seats while PP.P. Got Only 94 seats, Mian Sharif’s party for the first time made inroads into Sindh where it got eight Seals as compared (0 P.P.P’s 56 in a house of 100 posts seats in Baluchistan, PML won six with six seats in a house of 40 to emerge as the largest single group. However, in the Northwest province, the P.P.P. won 22 seats in a house of 80 while P.M.L’s strength was 15.
In the national assembly voting, the largest voter strength was of the P.M.L (N) with a little more than 36% although P.P.P. got more Seals.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 15, 1993
