18 Independents join hands with Sharif,PML-N gets majority

Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N has secured majority in Pakistan’s National Assembly after 18 Independent candidates joined the party,allowing it to form government at the centre without striking an alliance with any other party.

The Independent candidates who joined PML-N include the Legharis of Dera Ghazi Khan and the Sherazi brothers of Thatha district of Sindh. The Hiraj family of Punjab’s Khanewal district has also joined the PML-N after ditching the PML-Q. Maverick lawmaker Jamshad Dasti,who won polls to a parliamentary seat in Muzaffarghar district as an independent candidate,has also joined hands with the PML-N.

To win a simple majority in the National Assembly,a party or coalition needs 137 of the 272 directly elected seats. Now PML-N has 142 seats in the Parliament.