My sense is, Imran will be the next PM of Pakistan irrespective of PTI winning or not winning a wholesome majority.
What Imran has said, which got my attention and I quote in parts:
Moreover, he said that he would not make alliance with any party that was sitting in the assemblies
He will not form an alliance with any party which is a part of the current assembly, which means no truck with PPP, PPP(S), PML(N/F/Q), MQM, ANP, JuI, NPP, BNP(A), more (?) post the elections.
But, what if post the elections there is a spilt in PPP and/or in PML (N) and/or PML (Q) and/or more such parties and the dissident MNAs decide to join the PTI on their own? PTI, like this will get the desired majority.
Something more important which neednt be overlooked under the glossy headline, and I quote:
negotiations are in process with other parties.
Which means there is no opposition to the concept of coalition politics per se, which further means the PTI is in touch with a few parties, possibly like APML, nationalist parties in Baluchistan and Sindh, and more such parties which are not represented in the Pakistan national assembly.
Also from the above quote, the MNAs who split could form new parties and join the alliance led by the PTI, so like what has happened so far, where winnable candidates have been allowed in, post the elections the candidates who have won will be allowed in.
Argument in favor will be the same, either no past history of corruption or give them a new chance.
Over all from the picture presented, it looks certain that no one party in Pakistan will win a majority.
Just in case IK is not in favor of coalition politics, he needs to have a rethink, and I will sight 2 examples here:
Congress took good decade and a half to get the concept of coalition politics, and till they were not ready to adjust, they allowed the space for the BJP to grow and then the BJP under the NDA formed 2 central governments back to back, but once the Congress got it and adjusted to the idea, post 2004 they have not been dislodged.
The other factor and something that happened with the BJP, if you get too principled in your stand then sooner or later the fatigue sets in with the voter, more importantly, voter has a limited memory and the span of memory further cuts down especially in an age where information travels at lightening speed.
Imran should take a cue and take the plunge irrespective. 5 years in opposition for Imran wont be a good and also for the PTI. His best chance of getting to be the PM is now, who knows how the world will shape up in 5 years from now, best for him not to miss it, or he could end up like LK Advani, who gets taunted as the PM in waiting.
At the end, Imran needs to remember one thing absolutely clearly, he has hyped the expectations way too much so it remains more than a responsibility for him to form the next government and give it a shot good or bad, whatever. With him as the PM, India and Indians too has a lot of expectations, and we do believe India and Pakistan can look to have a lot better relations with him as the PM.