LAHORE: The PML-N says it is in contact with 13 independent MPAs-elect who have assured it of their support to form government in Punjab.

“An independent group of 13 has assured us their support and hopefully we will form the government in Punjab,” PML-N senior leader and former law minister Rana Sanaullah told Dawn on Monday.

He said the PML-N was very much in the race to form its government. “I have personally met with 13 Independents who are willing to join us. They do not want to join PTI,” he said, adding with independents and PPP’s support the PML-N would be in a position to form the government. The PML-N has 129 seats, PPP six while the number of independents is 28.

To a question as to why not a single independent even Jugnu Mohsin, wife of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi despite her meeting with Shahbaz Sharif, had not announced joining the PML-N while a number of independents had openly joined the PTI, Rana Sanullah said: “They will soon announce joining the PML-N,” he said.

PTI: Despite roping in 10 independents and wooing the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid), the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf is still finding it hard to touch the simple majority figure of 149 in the Punjab.

Entangled in the numbers game, the PTI leaders have put the issue of selecting its Punjab chief minister candidate on back burner.

PTI central information secretary Fawad Chaudhry claimed the party had achieved the required number and add that four more independents would be joining taking party’s seat tally to 180 – including women and minority reserved seats.

About chief minister’s candidate, Mr Chaudhry said Imran Khan would himself decide about the candidate. “Imran Khan knows better who can perform better on certain seats,” he said.

“Lobbying is a norm world over, but the decision of selecting chief minister rests with party chairman Imran Khan,” he asserted.

PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood also said Imran Khan would himself decide about the chief minister candidate and added that the candidates so far were Abdul Aleem Khan, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Fawad Chaudhry, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed.

“The Punjab chief minister candidate will be announced within 48 hours,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2018