More independents come into PML-N’s fold

Mindful of the fact that forming the government at Center will not prove to be a cakewalk since the PTI-backed independents are ahead of it in numbers in the National Assembly (NA), the PML-N has now started reaching out to these independents for the formation of government without any fuss, and it has succeeded in wooing some of them, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday. 

Three more independents have joined the PML-N, which has increased the party’s strength in both the National Assembly (NA) and the Punjab Assembly.  

Sardar Shamsher Mazari, who was elected to the National Assembly from NA-189, Rajanpur, has joined the PML-N.

Similarly, Muhammad Sohail, who was elected as an MPA from PP-240, Bahawalnagar, has also announced his decision to join the party.  

MPA Khurram Virk, from PP-48, Pasrur, too, has joined the PML-N, which is being termed favourite to form governments both at Center and in Punjab, obviously not on its own, but with the support of PPP and independents. 

Another good news for the party is that according to the results received from NA-252, Dukki in Balochistan, PML-N’s Sardar Yaqub Khan Nasir has won by getting 53,783 votes.

Sardar Babar Khan Musa, an independent candidate, stood second by securing 52, 992 votes. Form 47 of the election result has been issued.

Similarly, Rana Faiz from PP-49 and Taimoor Lali from PP-94, Chiniot have also announced their decision to join the PML-N.

صوبائی اسمبلی حلقہ PP-94 سے کامیاب آزاد امیدوار تیمور لالی کا باضابطہ طور پر پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) میں شمولیت کا اعلان۔#ElectionResult pic.twitter.com/zscBJxfTNL

— PMLN (@pmln_org) February 11, 2024

In another good news for the party, its candidate from PB-15, Suhbatpur, Balochistan Mir Saleem Ahmad Khan Khosa has won his seat by getting 25,102 votes.

On Saturday, two independent candidates had already announced joining the ranks of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Independent candidate Barrister Aqeel Malik who won with 85,912 votes after defeating PTI-backed independent candidate Azra Masood who was second with 73,694 votes from NA-54 Taxila seat was first to join PML-N.

In a video message, he said he was the worker of PML-N and his seat is a gift to Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Similarly, independent candidate Raja Khurram Nawaz, a former PTI stalwart, who won the poll by securing 69,699 votes after defeating PTI-backed independent candidate Ali Bukhari who was second with 59,851 votes from NA-48 Islamabad also announced joining PML-N ranks.

There are overall nine independent candidates other than PTI-backed independent candidates in the National Assembly.