PTI says it now has 'required numbers' to form Punjab govt

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday claimed to have acquired the required number of members in the Punjab Assembly to form its government in the province, ARY News reported.

According to party leader Fawad Chaudhary, the next chief minister of Punjab will be from the PTI.

Sources said that Chaudhary Shujaat will announce support of eight of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MPAs to the PTI sometime later today.

The PTI says it has now support of 150 members in the Punjab Assembly to establish its government in the province, thus pushing the PML-N on the opposition benches.

Some media reports suggest that PML-Q may demand the slot of deputy chief minister in return for support of its members to the PTI. However, none of the party members have officially confirmed these reports.

Imran Khan led party, which secured 123 provincial assembly seats in Punjab, needed help of 26 more MPAs-elect to have a chance to form a government in the province.

For a simple majority, a party needs the support of at least 149 MPAs out of the overall 297 general members to form government in the population-wise largest province of the country.

Meanwhile on Sunday, PML-Q leader Shujaat Hussain chaired a meeting and rejected the offer to form an alliance with their adversary PML-N and instead decided to strengthen relations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

PML-Q has a significant role for formation of the Punjab government. Pervaiz Elahi’s name was initially doing the rounds as a potential candidate for the chief minister’s slot but the PTI later said the coveted post would be taken by their party.