Pakistan: After the victory in the general election, another independent candidate has joined the PML-P on Monday. Earlier in the day, an independent candidate had joined Nawaz Sharif’s party.
The results of the general elections held in Pakistan on February 8 are out. No party got majority. For the first time in the country’s history, the highest number of independent candidates have been elected to the National Assembly. The PML-N and the PPP are trying to form a coalition government after the election results. After the election results, some independent members are joining the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. On Monday, another newly-elected independent member joined the PML-N.
Earlier in the day, an independent member backed by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). So far, two independent members of the National Assembly have joined the PML-N. The army’s involvement in Pakistan’s politics is not hidden from anyone. In such a situation, many political analysts believe that the inclusion of independent members in the PML-N can be part of the army’s strategy.
The newly elected independent members met Shehbaz, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif posted on Monday. They are Sardar Shamsheer Mazari from NA-189, Imran Akram from PP-195, Sohail Khan from PP-240, Khizr Hussain Mazari from PP-297 and Sahibzada Mohammad Kazin Abbasi from PP-249. Shehbaz said all the members expressed confidence in Nawaz Sharif’s leadership and announced to join the PML-N.
Former prime minister Shahbaz Sharif.
“You (members of other parties who joined PML-N) have become part of a caravan to beautify Pakistan and bring people out of difficulties. The first agenda of the PML-N is the economic prosperity of the country. The newly elected members of the National Assembly appreciated Nawaz Sharif’s contribution and passion for the country. “Pakistan needs Nawaz Sharif’s honesty, development agenda, service experience and dialogue of the newly elected members.
Provincial electionsThe PML-N emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly with 227 seats. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came second with 160 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) came third with 45 seats.
Independent candidates won 101 seats in the National Assembly, the highest number of independent members in the National Assembly. The PML-N, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, won 75 seats. Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP won 54 seats and the MQM-P 17. Among other political parties, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) won four seats, PML-Q won three and Istehqam-e-Pakistan (IPP) and Balochistan National Party (BNP) won two seats each. To form a government, a party must win 133 of the 265 seats in the National Assembly.
