LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have stepped up efforts for governance in Punjab – the heartland of power. Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif are both striving to form a government in Punjab, the country’s richest and most populous province. The PML-N has emerged as the largest party in Punjab with 129 seats, the PTI at number two with 123 members-elect, PML-Q (8), PPP (6) and independents have achieved 28 seats in the directly elected house of 297. At least 149 (directly elected) MPAs are required to form a government. With the addition of 66 women on reserved seats and eight minorities, at least 185 members are required to form a government. With the joining of the independent MPAs-elect, the PTI tally in the Punjab Assembly has reached 132. Those who announced their decisions to join the PTI on Saturday were Muhammad Salman Naeem from Multan; Tahir Randhawa (PP-280) and Rafaqat Ali Gillani (PP-284) from Layyah; Basit Sultan Bukhari (PP-272), Almadar Abbas (PP-277) and Abdul Hayi (PP-270) in Muzaffargarh; Hussain Jahaniyan Gardezi (PP-204) and Khawar Ali Shah (PP-203) in Khanewal; and Hanif Pitafi (PP-289) in Dera Ghazi Khan. These include applicants for the party’s tickets recommended by Jahangir Khan Tareen who were not considered because of Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s opposition to their names. A spokesperson for the PTI said that with the back-to-back joining the party had emerged as the largest party in terms of seats share in the assembly. “More independent candidates will join the party by evening. We will soon announce our chief minister candidate.” Meanwhile, the PML-N has also claimed to have received the support of as many as nine independents, making its seat tally reach 136, however, it did not announce their names. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has reportedly refused to support PML-N in forming the government in Punjab The seven provincial members will be giving their votes in favour of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s chief minister nominee. The decision was made at a party’s consultative meeting chaired by party’s president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. Hussain directed the party members to further strengthen the alliance with the PTI, adding that the PML-N had always contacted the party whenever it suited their interests. Earlier in the day, reports surfaced that the PML-Q had demanded the post of Punjab chief minister or deputy prime minister as a condition for forming a coalition provincial government with the PTI. However, PTI’s Naeemul Haq, while addressing a press conference, dismissed speculation that a chief minister belonging to a political party other than the PTI would be appointed. “The Punjab chief minister will belong to the PTI. There should be no mistake about it,” he told reporters. It was also revealed that PML-N on late Saturday night reached out to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to form a coalition government in Punjab. According to reports, Shehbaz met PPP leader Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood in Lahore to discuss a coalition government in the province. Both the parties are required to have the support of at least 148 members to have its chief minister elected. Published in Daily Times, July 30th 2018.