ISLAMABAD – Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given a blow to thePML N President Shahbaz Sharif.

ECP on Tuesday has disposed of Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) ShehbazSharif’s plea seeking permission to include independent Senators inPakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The commission has forwarded the issue to Senate secretariat, stating thatthe issue doesn’t come under the jurisdiction of ECP.

Earlier, *ECP had rejected pleas filed by 15 independent senatorlink>*saimed at joining ranks of PML-N in the upper house of the parliament.

Following ECP’s verdict, Senate secretariat had also decided to not allowmerger of independent senators with PMLN.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) became largest party in the Senate with 20members. PMLN has slipped to second spot with 17 members while PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is at number third spot with 12 senators.

The number of independent senators stands at 33.