Imran on support hunt to form next government in Pakistan

Pakistan’s NA - the lower house of Parliament - comprises a total of 342 members, of which 272 are directly elected. A party can only form the government if it manages to secure 172 seats in total. 

Khan on Friday met Saudi ambassador Nawaf Saeed Ahmad al-Malilki in Islamabad. The two discussed bilateral relations and agreed to further deepen the ties during the tenure of the PTI government. According to PTI sources, Khan has consulted his party leaders about the federal cabinet and formation of government in Punjab where PML-N is also in the race. 

Khan’s confidante Jehangir Khan Tarin, who has been tasked to contact independent candidates, spoke to Muttahidda Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui who later refused to attend a multi-party meeting which rejected the election results. 

Khan also took his party leaders in confidence about government formation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where the PTI has won a majority of seats and will easily form the government. It is likely to retain former CM Pervaiz Khattak for the top job in the province despite some reservations about his performance. The party is also trying to have a coalition government in Balochistan. Khan has still about three weeks to prepare for the government before the mandatory session of the National Assembly (NA) is called after elections.

As per the law, the President of Pakistan should convene the maiden NA session within 21 days of election to give oaths to lawmakers and elect the new Speaker.