News Analysis |
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah has claimed on Friday that “his party is in a position to form the government in Punjab”. Mr. Rana was speaking to the media when he made this ‘surprising’ claim. Since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has already claimed that it has required a mandate to form a government in the province, now the same claim by the PML-N is interesting.
“We have won 130 seats and need an additional 18 MPA-elects. With the Pakistan Peoples Party’s six elected MPs and 13 independents we will have the numbers to form the government,” Sanaullah claimed.
Previously, PML-N has been demanding the PTI to let it form a government in Punjab. “In Punjab, PML-N has 129 seats, PTI has 123, while 28, who are independent, share our ideology. Our people are in touch with them,” said Hamza Shehbaz, son of PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif. But the leaders of the PTI rejected any such claim and always claimed that the party will form a government in the largest province of the country along with the help of independents.
PML-N will get an opportunity to do some publicity-oriented projects in the project and will in a position to throw the PTI out of the race in the next general elections. Therefore, PTI is striving to ensure its rule in Punjab.
PTI to rule in Punjab says Fawad Ch.
PTI has also successfully gained the backing of MPAs-elect to form a government in the province, said party spokesperson. According to media reports in a meeting with PTI chairman Imran Khan, MPAs-elect Saeed Akbar Niwani from PP-90 Bhakkar, Ameer Muhammad Khan from PP-89 Bhakkar and Fida Wattoo from Bahawalnagar had announced they would lend their support for the PTI, a press release by the party’s Central Media Department said. Abdul Hai Dasti from PP-270 Muzaffargarh, who had announced his support for PTI on Sunday also met Khan.
The PTI originally won 129 seats from Punjab but, later on, independents decided to join the party which increased the number of PTI’s seats in the assembly.
Read more: PTI invited Indian Cricketers to oath-taking ceremony of Imran Khan
PML-Q Joins PTI
Earlier, the leader of PML-Q Moonis Elahi tweeted and said that his party has decided to back PTI in this critical situation. #PMLQ leadership met @ImranKhanPTI and other members of PTI team. We have decided to support them for the betterment of #Pakistan as our country is passing through a critical time.
#PMLQ leadership met @ImranKhanPTI and other members of PTI team. We have decided to support them for betterment of #Pakistan as our country is passing through a critical time. pic.twitter.com/ly8yJhgFbL
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) July 30, 2018
PML-Q has originally 7 seats but one of the independents has also joined the party, therefore, at this moment, PML-Q has 8 seats in hand.
Read more: MQM to support PTI government
Why is Punjab Important?
It was expected that PTI would manage to make an alliance with PML-Q to form the government in Punjab. Since the PTI is going to lead in the National Assembly, it was, therefore, likely that it would get required seats to lead in Punjab as well. Interestingly, PML-N was using different tactics to put pressure on Imran Khan to let it form the government in Punjab.
PML-N has 129 seats, PTI has 123, while 28, who are independent, share our ideology. Our people are in touch with them,” said Hamza Shehbaz, son of PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif.
Shehbaz Sharif has attended the multi-party conference called by Maulana Fazal ur Rehman. The MPC jointly rejected the results of the General Elections 2018. But later on, PML-N, JI and others agreed to join the National Assembly while forming a ‘collective and strong’ opposition against the PTI. Imran Khan wants to make the government in Punjab despite all hurdles and challenges. Khan is focusing on Punjab for two very valid reasons.
Read more: PML-Q demands post of CM Punjab or deputy prime minister slot;…
One, Punjab is the most populated province of Pakistan and if the party is interested to implement its agenda of change it should take Punjab into account. Secondly, if the PTI fails to form a government in Punjab, PML-N will get an opportunity to do some publicity-oriented projects in the project and will in a position to throw the PTI out of the race in the next general elections. Therefore, PTI is striving to ensure its rule in Punjab.