PTI eyes to take the helm in Punjab

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which is set to form 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.

The PML-N doesn’t seem to be in a position to form the provincial government this time.

Sources say the PTI has already contacted 27 independent candidates and is expected to get a majority of seats in the Punjab Assembly as the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) is also likely to announce its support for the PTI.

The PML-Q has won 7 provincial assembly seats while the PPP has bagged six seats.

According to PTI chairman’s spokesperson Naeemul Haq, the party would form a government in the province and is in touch with various MPs-elect.

Senior party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Jahangir Khan Tareen have been tasked to contact independent candidates and MPs-elect of other parties to join forces with the PTI to form the government.

The PTI will need at least 149 seats in the 297 house to form a government.