“Both sides are interested in forming an alliance, but there has been no breakthrough yet. Both parties want the post of prime minister,” a senior PML-N leader close to the Sharif family told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
PML-N has not named its prime ministerial candidate.
However, the PML-N source said it was ‘very likely’ that 72-year-old Shehbaz Sharif, who held the post for 16 months till August, would be chosen. He is the younger brother of party founder Nawaz Sharif, 74, who has been prime minister three times.
The senior leader said, Nawaz Sharif would have been a candidate only if the party had got a clear majority.
However, Ata Tarar, another senior PML-N leader, said that the party has not taken any decision on its candidate.
To become prime minister, a candidate must show that they have a simple majority of 169 seats in the 336-member National Assembly when it convenes in session in the next few weeks. About 70 seats are reserved for women and minorities, divided among the parties on a proportional basis.