Though the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) needed only 20 members-elect of the Punjab Assembly, being the majority party with 129 seats, to retain its parliamentary strength, it could not win over a single MPA-elect out of 29 despite being in absolute power in the past decade.
As of Thursday, PTI had received the support of as many as 180 lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly to form its government in the province. The tally rose from 123 with the joining of 23 independent MPAs-elect (member of provincial assembly) out of 29 and alliance with other parties.
One MPA-elect has joined ranks of Pervez Elahi’s PML-Q whereas six are expected to join the ruling party for it is the best option for any independent-elect MPA in Punjab. PTI’s alliance with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has further strengthened after the decision to nominate Chaudhry Pervez Elahi as speaker of Punjab Assembly. If elected, he will be resuming the post for second time as 17th speaker of the Punjab Assembly.
Political observers pointed out that Ch Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz have an old grudge with the Sharifs.
In May 2009, Sharifs patronised a forward bloc comprising 26 Punjab Assembly members elected on PML-Q tickets to cause trouble for the Chaudhrys of Gujrat.
Observers also noted that 23 PML-N MPAs-elect did not attend the parliamentary party meeting called by Shehbaz Sharif despite personal requests by Hamza Shehbaz.
PML-N has emerged the second most popular party of the country by winning 64 National Assembly and 129 provincial Assembly seats. However, the political future of the party is still insecure and it is now forced to sit with its rival PPP to plan a strategy against PTI.
