On Tuesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) in the Centre and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa announced their intention to form a government in both provinces.
Out of the 266 seats in the lower house, the PTI-backed candidates currently have more than 90 seats in the National Assembly, followed by the PML-N with 75 and the PPP with 54. The total number of seats is 336 when the 70 reserved seats are taken into account.
A party must hold at least 169 seats in the National Assembly in order to obtain a simple majority.
Following their admission to the MWM, PTI-backed candidates are eligible to reserve seats in proportion to the total number of seats they have in the NA. If that occurs, they may be able to secure more than 20 seats, roughly.
The PTI-backed candidates will need to provide affidavits to the ECP attesting to their MWM membership in order to be eligible for reserve seats after joining the MWM. The MWM chief will then need to notify the ECP in writing that he has approved the independent candidates.
The PTI made its declaration not long after JI Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch attested to the party’s communication with the PTI over the formation of the cabinet.
In this regard, Baloch spoke over the phone with Senator Azam Swati, Ali Amin Gandapur, and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar. After that, JI agreed to take coordinated action.
According to sources, the heads of the two parties will soon get together in Islamabad to discuss the specifics and possibilities for forming a government or playing the opposition role.
In an interview with Express News, Baloch stated, “We are in contact with PTI leaders, and if PTI needs JI to protect their independent candidates, we will welcome them.”
“As a political party, PTI has not yet presented their demands; we are open and do not have any.”
