ISLAMABAD: The PML-N is on the verge of winning a majority in both the federal and Punjab assemblies, cementing its status as the dominant political force in the country’s political landscape.
The party achieved the required numbers to form governments at both levels due to the inclusion of independent members and the support of allies such as the PPP, PML-Q and MQM.
Currently, these parties together have 159 general seats in the National Assembly.
Besides 7 independents, PML-N has 82 seats, PPP 54, MQM 17, PML-Q 3, while IPP and BAP have 2 and 1 seat respectively in the National Assembly.
The PML-N is all set to secure 18 of the total 60 reserved seats for women in the lower house of parliament. It is also in a position to claim 3 of the 10 minority seats. Meanwhile, the PPP is expected to secure 12 reserved seats for women and 2 minority seats based on its current position.
MQM’s efforts aim to secure 4 reserved seats for women, while smaller parties are collectively seeking 3 seats for women.
This concerted effort could potentially boost the coalition’s strength in the National Assembly to 202 MPs, comfortably exceeding the support needed for a simple majority of 169 MPs.
Moreover, the inclusion of many independent members in the PML-N paved the way for the formation of the government in Punjab and strengthened the party’s influence in the province. The addition of these independents took the PML-N tally in Punjab to 151 seats.
To form the government in Punjab, a political party needs to secure 186 seats out of the total 371 seats in the provincial assembly. These are 297 general seats, 66 seats reserved for women and 8 seats reserved for minorities.
In Punjab, each political party will be allotted one women seat for every 4.5 general seats it secures and one minority seat for every 37.12 general seats won.
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As per the current party standings, the PML-N is set to secure 33 seats out of the 66 seats reserved for women in the Punjab Assembly, while the PML-Q and PPP will secure two seats each. PTI-backed independent candidates can contribute to winning 28 such seats.
With the support of 151 members, PML-N positioned itself to secure 4 minority seats. After filling the seats for women and minorities, the party’s strength will increase to 188 members.
However, with the inclusion of PPP, PML-Q and IPP in the ruling alliance, the number of coalition members in the Punjab Assembly will rise to 214.
After a meeting at PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s residence, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday nominated Maryam Nawaz as the Punjab CM candidate.
“The decision to nominate Maryam for this position was made by the party leadership and the Quaid [Nawaz Sharif],” said Shehbaz, who is himself nominated as the joint candidate of the three main parties — PML-N, PPP and MQM-P — for the post of prime minister.
