LAHORE – The battle for the throne of Punjab intensifies as reportedly over20 independent candidates have contacted PTI for government formation inPunjab.

Pakistan Taheerk-e-Insaf (PTI) will form the government in Punjab, aprivate news channel citing the party spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry reportedhere on Thursday night.

According to the report, almost 20 independent candidates have contactedwith PTI and assured their full support in making the government in Punjab,a former bastion of PML-N.

So far in Punjab, the preliminary results showed PML-N has taken 130 seatswith PTI holding 121 provincial seats. Independent candidates, PakistanMuslim League-Quaid and other parties have bagged 42 seats.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is leading on 120 National Assembly seats whereasPakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has managed to take 63 seats so far ingeneral election 2018.

According to unofficial results of majority constituencies, PakistanPeoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) stands at third position with 38seats while 17 seats have been claimed by independent candidates.