Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that the party had decided to vote for “those who had come to ask” for the prime minister’s election.

He said that the Sunni Ittehad Council, which is now home to PTI-backed independents, did not ask for his vote. “Now how are they objecting that someone is forming the government? […] they were not in any position to form a government in any situation,” he said.

“They decided themselves that they will not ask. So the only option we have is to give a chance to those asking […] PPP will give its input using the parliamentary system,” he said.

“We are thankful to the SIC, they had Maryam Nawaz elected chief minister unopposed. They also did not oppose election of Murad Ali Shah. They did not ask for my vote or convince me not to vote for Shehbaz Sharif, so I think we should thank the PTI and SIC that Shehbaz will also be elected unopposed.”