PML-N vows to form govt in Punjab

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz on Friday said his party will sit on opposition benches in the National Assembly despite having all reservations on the general elections. 

Speaking at a press conference, he said his party will form government in Punjab since it has bagged 129 of the Punjab Assembly seats. “PML-N will form a government in the province. Inshallah, we will soon give a good news.”

Hamza said the formerly governing party will talk to the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to join hands with it to form the provincial government.

He said the party is also in touch with independent candidates and like-minded MPs-elect in this regard.

“We will respond vigorously, if stopped from forming a government in Punjab,” he cautioned, recalling: “Former premier Nawaz Sharif had offered PTI chief Imran Khan a chance to form the government in KP and respected its mandate despite winning most seats in the province in the 2013 elections.”

“Our mandate should be respected,” he stressed.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which is set to form a government at the Centre after winning a majority of National Assembly seats, has stepped up efforts to woo independent candidates and other parties to form the new government in Punjab.

According to the official results so far issued by the ECP, the PML-N and PTI are running neck-to-neck with the former winning 127 seats in Punjab Assembly while the latter 118 seats.

It may be noted here that at least 149 seats are required in the 297 house to form a government.