LAHORE/ISLAMABAD   -    Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Sunday that his party would support Shehbaz Sharif as a prime minister in order to ensure electoral reforms for moving towards more democratic Pakistan.

In an interview with BBC on Sunday, the PPP leader didn’t confirm his debut as the next foreign minister of the country.

Replying to another question, PPP Chairman said, the answer to Pakistan’s problems is democracy, democracy and more democracy. “Unless we’ve political and democratic freedoms we can’t progress to economic freedom; first step to right the wrongs of past,” he added.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is undecided about cabinet slots as Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif is set to take over as the new prime minister.

The PPP is a major supporter of Shehbaz Sharif with 56 lawmakers in the National Assembly but PPP supremo, Asif Ali Zardari is reluctant to share the cabinet slots keeping in view the general elections.

PPP sources said Shehbaz Sharif is convincing Zardari to name a few ministers from his party for the new government.

There have been speculations about PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari being offered the foreign minister’s post, but the party has not taken a decision in this regard.

“We cannot rule it out but at this moment, we are undecided. The issue will be further discussed and a decision will be taken,” said a close aide of the Bhutto family.

He said the new government’s main aim was to bring electoral reforms and ensure an environment for free and fair elections.

Another PPP leader said the Zardari was not in favour of becoming part of the cabinet but this decision could change in the coming days. “The issue will be reconsidered after the election of the prime minister,” he added.

Yesterday, Shehbaz Sharif and Shah Mehmood Qureshi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf filed nomination papers for the post of prime minister. The PTI raised objections to the PML-N president’s nomination papers which were rejected.

Shehbaz Sharif and Qureshi will come face to face in the National Assembly today (April 11) for the election of the new prime minister.

Later in the day, Shehbaz Sharif called on Asif Ali Zardari and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

“Former president Asif Ali Zardari, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Mian Shehbaz Sharif discussed the political situation in the country. Shehbaz Sharif thanked Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto for their efforts to ensure the success of the no-confidence motion. They pledged to work together on the issues of public interest,” said a PPP statement.

“The 1973 Constitution is the guarantee of the integrity and survival of the federation. Benazir Bhutto fought all her life for restoration of Constitution, and in Safeguarding the 1973 Constitution, Benazir Bhutto endured imprisonment and hardships,” he added.

He said the journalists also fought hard for the freedom of expression and media as well as the restoration of Constitution.

Zardari paid rich tributes to those who accepted executions, floggings and imprisonment for protecting the Constitution.

PPP’s Naveed Qamar leading race for NA speaker slot

After the success of the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, the opposition alliance is set to elect new prime minister from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the National Assembly Speaker from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), sources said on Sunday. PPP’s Naveed Qamar is a strong candidate for the National Assembly Speaker. However, the PPP is yet to decide whether to become part of the federal cabinet or not. The decision to form the federal cabinet will be taken after the oath-taking ceremony of the new prime minister.