ISLAMABAD, March 5: Seven more independent MNAs have joined the Pakistan People’s Party, bringing to 95 the party’s strength in the National Assembly. The PML-N’s strength in the assembly is now 70.

An official of the Election Commission told Dawn on Wednesday that political parties had informed the EC about independents joining them.

Out of 11 independent MNAs who have joined different political parties, seven have joined the PPP and four the PML-N.

Those joining the PPP are Mehboobullah (NA-23, Kohistan), Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan (NA-71, Mianwalli I), Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed Khan (NA-79, Faisalabad V), Chaudhry Muhammad Tariq Anees, (NA-116, Narowal II), Sajjadul Hassan (NA-144, Okara-II), Malik Amir Yar Warn (NA-184, Bahawalpur II), and Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd (NA-267, Bolan-cum-Jhal Magsi).

Those who have joined the PML-N are Humair Hayat Rokhri (NA-72, Mianwali II), Abdul Majeed Khan Khanana Khel ((Bhakkar I), Rashid Akbar Khan (NA-74, Bhakkar II) and Haji Mudassar Qayyum Nahra (NA-100, Gujranwala VI).

According to EC figures, out of 32 independent members of the Punjab Assembly, 27 have joined the PML-N and five the PPP. With the 27 lawmakers, the number of PML-N seats in the Punjab Assembly has risen to 131. The number of PPP lawmakers in the assembly has gone up to 80.

In the NWFP, five independent members have joined the Awami National Party, six the PPPP and two the PML-N, taking their strength to 34, 23 and 7 seats, respectively.

The EC will issue a notification on the allocation of seats reserved for women and minorities soon after the intimation by political parties of the independent lawmakers who have joined these parties. EC sources said that it might take a day or two after which a clear party position in the National and provincial assemblies would emerge.

The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered re-polling in 62 polling stations of two National Assembly and two provincial assembly seats.

The order was issued by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Qazi Muhammad Farooq at a meeting on Wednesday.

He ordered re-polling in 18 polling stations of NA-202, Shikarpur I; two of NA-20, Mansehra I; 17 of PS-12, Shikarpur II; and 25 of PS-15, Jacobabad III.

The EC, which stayed the official notification of the result of NA-271, Kharan-Washuk-Panjgaur, rejected the application of Justice (retd) Abdul Qadir and declared Ehsanullah Rekhi as the winner.

It also dismissed an application filed by Basheer Qureshi, a candidate from PS-92, Karachi 4, and declared Abdul Haseeb of the MQM as the successful candidate.

Taking action on a petition filed by Mr Aftab Shabaan Mirani of the PPP, the EC ordered re-polling in 18 polling stations of NA-202, Shikarpur I; 17 of PS-12, Shikarpur II; and 25 of PS-15, Jacobabad III.

The Election Commission has fixed March 12 as the date for re-polling in polling stations of NA-202 and PS-12 while March 13 has been set as the date for re-polling in 25 polling stations of PS-15, Jacobabad.

In the two polling stations of NA-20, Mansehra, re-polling will be held on March 13.