*ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)** parliamentary partymeeting on Monday formally nominated Imran Khan as party candidate for theoffice of prime minister. *
The high-level huddle of the PTI parliamentary party is currently underwayat a local hotel.
It is also likely to pick the candidates for speaker and deputy speaker ofthe National Assembly.
The PTI claims to be enjoying the support of 125 MNAs which include atleast nine independent members out of the total of 13. However, its tallyreaches 174 with addition of its small coalition partners and reservedseats for women and minorities.
It will also get support from Balochistan National Party (Mengal) afterwhich its total numbers in the National Assembly would reach 177.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan (MQM-P), the Sindh based Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA),Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Awami Muslim League (AML) have alliedwith the PTI to help it form the new government at the Centre.
The PTI, which is now in a comfortable position to elect Khan as the nextprime minister, is said to have also finalised the names of party leaderswho will be part of his cabinet. The PM-in-waiting has already expressedthe desire to have a smaller cabinet.
As per procedure, if a party has a clear majority or the magical number of172 votes, it can easily elect the Leader of the House in the NationalAssembly.
The PTI emerged as the single largest party with 115 seats in the 2018general elections but fell short of a clear majority in the 342-memberhouse.