“You cannot have reserved seats as independent candidates,” he told Aaj News via a telephone call. “A final decision will be made today on which party to join.”

Independent candidates backed by the PTI have secured the maximum number of National Assembly seats, according to the provisional results by the Election Commission of Pakistan. The PML-N has emerged as the single largest political party.

But Imran Khan’s party candidates have to join another political party to have reserved seats.

You can read the details about the reserved seats here.

A candidate belonging to the MWM was declared the victor in Kurram’s NA-37 on February 8.

Hamid Khan was declared the winner after getting 58,650 votes as per Form-47 issued by the Election Commission. Sajid Hussain Turi of the Pakistan Peoples Party stood second with 54,384 votes.

Also, read this

Reserved seats: The lesser-known formula and a risk to PTI-backed majority

Could PTI’s plan C involve joining another party?

The MWM victory could be significant as it was one of the parties mentioned in connection with a ‘Plan-C’ by the PTI.

Reports had claimed in January that PTI-backed independent candidates could end up joining another party in the National Assembly which would allow them to be organised and receive reserved seats.