Islamabad, Aug 12: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of cricketer-turned -politician Imran Khan has surged close to the halfway majority mark as the Pakistan Election Commission has allocated 33 reserved seats to the party.

With the additions, the PTI's grand tally stands at 158 in the 342-member assembly. The party is now 14 short of the magical figure - 272 - which it hopes to reach with support from smaller parties and independent legislators-elect.

In the elections conducted on July 25, 272 seats of the national assembly were contested. The remaining 70 seats are distributed among the political parties based on their vote share.

Of the 70 seats, 60 are reserved for women candidates, whereas, 10 are to be distributed among the non-Muslim minorities.

While PTI has been allotted 33 of the reserved 70 seats, the PML-N headed by former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif was accorded with 15. PPP of former President Asif Ali Zardari was allotted 11 seats. Three seats, meanwhile, were given to the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

Among major leaders nominated by the PTI to the national assembly include Shireen Mazari and Andleeb Abbas. From the PML-N, party spokespersons Marriyum Aurangzeb, Maiza Hameed and senior Tahira Aurangzaib are the lawmakers sent to the assembly. The PPP has nominated former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar among others.

The swearing-in of Imran Khan is scheduled on August 18 at the President's House in Islamabad. In days following the oath-taking ceremony, Khan will face a floor test in the national assembly. Arch-rivals PML-N, PPP and nearly a dozen smaller parties have joined hands to field their own prime ministerial candidate to challenge Khan's elevation in the assembly.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 12, 2018 10:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).