Pakistan's second and third political blocs have agreed to co-operate after elections in which jailed ex-PM Imran Khan's supporters came first.
Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif's PMLN and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's PPP issued a statement saying they planned to work together to bring political stability.
If they do form a government, the move is likely to anger Mr Khan's followers.
His PTI party was barred from taking part in the election, so most of its candidates stood as independents.
Earlier, police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of Mr Khan's supporters in Rawalpindi.
According to final results, independents won 101 of the National Assembly seats. BBC analysis shows 93 of them went to PTI-backed candidates.
That puts them ahead of the PMLN, who won 75, and the PPP, who gained 54.
The two parties formed an alliance to oust Mr Khan from power in 2022 and ruled until last August.
The Karachi-based MQM party has also made a surprising return in the polls, winning 17 seats, and could play a role in any coalition.
As wrangling continues, independent candidates who did not win have flooded courts with vote-rigging allegations.
Both the PTI, which was blocked from taking part in the election, and Mr Sharif's PMLN say they want to form the next government.
Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif's PMLN and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's PPP issued a statement saying they planned to work together to bring political stability.
If they do form a government, the move is likely to anger Mr Khan's followers.
His PTI party was barred from taking part in the election, so most of its candidates stood as independents.
Earlier, police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of Mr Khan's supporters in Rawalpindi.
According to final results, independents won 101 of the National Assembly seats. BBC analysis shows 93 of them went to PTI-backed candidates.
That puts them ahead of the PMLN, who won 75, and the PPP, who gained 54.
The two parties formed an alliance to oust Mr Khan from power in 2022 and ruled until last August.
The Karachi-based MQM party has also made a surprising return in the polls, winning 17 seats, and could play a role in any coalition.
As wrangling continues, independent candidates who did not win have flooded courts with vote-rigging allegations.
Both the PTI, which was blocked from taking part in the election, and Mr Sharif's PMLN say they want to form the next government.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PPP President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday. The two parties have agreed "in principle to save the country from political instability."
The leaders of two parties spoke about the overall situation of the country and political cooperation in the future, according to the statement released by PML-N President on X. Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari agreed to cooperate politically to bring the nation to political stability.
According to the statement, PPP leadership will put forward the proposals of PML-N in the Central Executive Committee meeting. The delegation of PML-N includes Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima.
In a post on X, PML-N President stated, "Lahore: President PPPP Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met former Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Bilawal House. In principle consensus on political cooperation between Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party. In the meeting, the overall situation of the country and the political cooperation in the future were discussed in detail. Lahore: The leaders agreed to cooperate politically to bring the country to political stability."
"The leaders of both parties agreed in principle to save the country from political instability. In the meeting, both parties consulted on the situation and discussed the proposals. PPP leadership will put forward the proposals of PML-N in the Central Executive Committee meeting. The majority of the people have given us a mandate; we will not disappoint the people, expressed the opinion of the leaders. The PML-N delegation includes Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima," it added.
Meanwhile, Secretariat of the PPP Chairman stated that it was the PPP's first meeting with PML-N over the government's formation. The two parties discussed government formation.
In a post on X, Secretariat of the PPP Chairman stated, "Lahore: First official contact of Pakistan Muslim League-N with the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party for government formation. PML-N President Mian Shahbaz Sharif reached Bilawal House to seek cooperation from the Pakistan Peoples Party in government formation. President PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif discussed government formation."
"Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Maryam Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima are included in the delegation of PML-N. Your proposal regarding cooperation in government formation will be discussed in the Central Executive Committee meeting tomorrow, PPP leadership's reply to PML-N," it added.
Earlier in the day, Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) convener, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that discussions during a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders did not involve any talks regarding the formation of the next government, Pakistan-based Dawn reported.
Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Siddiqui said the polls have created a challenging situation in Pakistan and stressed that all parties must play their part in moving the country out of crisis.He said, "The stability of democracy is more important than anything else."
He emphasised that no discussion has yet taken place about the formation of the government, according to the Dawn report. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said it has not yet been confirmed whether the MQM-P will get any share in the government or not.
His remarks came shortly after the PML-N released a statement saying that the two parties had reached a "principle agreement" to work together in the next government, according to Dawn report.
In a statement posted on X, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb said that PML-N and MQM-P leaders agreed on political cooperation. She noted that an in-principle agreement was reached between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leadership.The delegation of PML-N was led by former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, while MQM-P's delegation was led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM.
PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Mashhood were also present in the meeting.She noted that the meeting between the leaders of the two parties continued for about an hour. She said that the two sides held a detailed consultation on the situation.
In a post on X, Marriyum Aurangzeb stated, "An in-principle agreement was reached between Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leadership It will go together for the interest of the country and the nation; the basic points have been decided in Muslim League (N) and MQM. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif from the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM led the delegation."
"Pakistan Muslim League (N) President Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Mashhood were also present in the meeting. The MQM delegation included Sindh Governor Kamran Tasuri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal. The consultation between the leaders of both parties continued for about an hour In the meeting, there was a detailed consultation on the situation and suggestions were exchanged The leaders also confided in each other regarding the overall political situation and the contacts made so far Earlier, on their arrival in Raiwand, the leader of the Muslim League (N) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President Shehbaz Sharif, along with the party leaders, welcomed the MQM leaders," she added.
The leaders of two parties spoke about the overall situation of the country and political cooperation in the future, according to the statement released by PML-N President on X. Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari agreed to cooperate politically to bring the nation to political stability.
According to the statement, PPP leadership will put forward the proposals of PML-N in the Central Executive Committee meeting. The delegation of PML-N includes Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima.
In a post on X, PML-N President stated, "Lahore: President PPPP Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met former Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Bilawal House. In principle consensus on political cooperation between Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party. In the meeting, the overall situation of the country and the political cooperation in the future were discussed in detail. Lahore: The leaders agreed to cooperate politically to bring the country to political stability."
"The leaders of both parties agreed in principle to save the country from political instability. In the meeting, both parties consulted on the situation and discussed the proposals. PPP leadership will put forward the proposals of PML-N in the Central Executive Committee meeting. The majority of the people have given us a mandate; we will not disappoint the people, expressed the opinion of the leaders. The PML-N delegation includes Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima," it added.
Meanwhile, Secretariat of the PPP Chairman stated that it was the PPP's first meeting with PML-N over the government's formation. The two parties discussed government formation.
In a post on X, Secretariat of the PPP Chairman stated, "Lahore: First official contact of Pakistan Muslim League-N with the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party for government formation. PML-N President Mian Shahbaz Sharif reached Bilawal House to seek cooperation from the Pakistan Peoples Party in government formation. President PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif discussed government formation."
"Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Maryam Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima are included in the delegation of PML-N. Your proposal regarding cooperation in government formation will be discussed in the Central Executive Committee meeting tomorrow, PPP leadership's reply to PML-N," it added.
Earlier in the day, Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) convener, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that discussions during a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders did not involve any talks regarding the formation of the next government, Pakistan-based Dawn reported.
Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Siddiqui said the polls have created a challenging situation in Pakistan and stressed that all parties must play their part in moving the country out of crisis.He said, "The stability of democracy is more important than anything else."
He emphasised that no discussion has yet taken place about the formation of the government, according to the Dawn report. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said it has not yet been confirmed whether the MQM-P will get any share in the government or not.
His remarks came shortly after the PML-N released a statement saying that the two parties had reached a "principle agreement" to work together in the next government, according to Dawn report.
In a statement posted on X, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb said that PML-N and MQM-P leaders agreed on political cooperation. She noted that an in-principle agreement was reached between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leadership.The delegation of PML-N was led by former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, while MQM-P's delegation was led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM.
PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Mashhood were also present in the meeting.She noted that the meeting between the leaders of the two parties continued for about an hour. She said that the two sides held a detailed consultation on the situation.
In a post on X, Marriyum Aurangzeb stated, "An in-principle agreement was reached between Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leadership It will go together for the interest of the country and the nation; the basic points have been decided in Muslim League (N) and MQM. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif from the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM led the delegation."
"Pakistan Muslim League (N) President Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Mashhood were also present in the meeting. The MQM delegation included Sindh Governor Kamran Tasuri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal. The consultation between the leaders of both parties continued for about an hour In the meeting, there was a detailed consultation on the situation and suggestions were exchanged The leaders also confided in each other regarding the overall political situation and the contacts made so far Earlier, on their arrival in Raiwand, the leader of the Muslim League (N) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President Shehbaz Sharif, along with the party leaders, welcomed the MQM leaders," she added.
