Will a hung Parliament force Pak military to bring Sharif, Bhutto together?

As the votes are counted in Pakistan after 8 February’s general election marred by allegations of rigging, sporadic violence and a nationwide internet shutdown, the big question some are asking is what if it’s a hung Parliament? While it may be too early to call the race for any party, initial results do suggest that no party may be a clear winner.

Voting was held for 265 out of the 266 general seats of the National Assembly and 590 of the 593 general seats of the provincial assemblies. The main battle, as expected, is between candidates backed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the PML-N of former PM Nawaz Sharif.

However, PTI-backed independents seem to be doing better than expected, though Sharif’s party still has an edge. Before the elections, analysts had also predicted that there may be no clear winner in the elections.

According to the current projections, PML-N is expected to secure 80 to 90 seats, Bilawal Bhutto’s PPP around 60, and PTI-backed independents around 40.

While the political uncertainty and no clear winner may be bad news for the country, it may be exactly what the country’s powerful military wanted. The results may help the military generals keep Nawaz Sharif, who has previously challenged their authority, in check.

The two big parties PML-N and PPP may be asked to come together to form the government. That could also mean Nawaz’s brother Shehbaz may return in the role of prime minister.

Some reports suggest that if that happens, this is what Pakistan’s next cabinet could look like.

• President: A PPP appointee

• Prime Minister: From PML-N (if it gets good numbers)

• Chairman Senate: PML-N

• Ahsan Iqbal of PML-N: Finance Minister

• Punjab Province: PML-N and CM Maryam Nawaz, Aleem Khan likely to be senior minister

• Sindh Province: PPP

• Balochistan Province: Coalition government

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Power sharing with PTI independents

However, till the final results are declared, and the military has disclosed its cards, everything is speculation.