The Suni Ittehad Council (SIC) has submitted the party certificates of another 32 independent members of the National Assembly who have joined it in the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The number of total PTI-backed candidates who have officially joined the Sunni Ittehad Council has grown to 82 with the latest additions.

SIC Chairman Hamid Raza submitted affidavits by each individual member as well as party certificates as proof of their joining.

The party has also submitted documents for nine members of the Sindh Assembly who have joined its platform after the elections.

PTI-backed candidates were forced to contest the election as independents after the bat symbol was denied to the party by the ECP.

Independents, including these PTI-backed candidates, had emerged as the largest group in the National Assembly after the elections with 101 seats.

Elected members are bound by law to join a party within three days of their result being notified. Otherwise, they will remain independent candidates for the length of their tenure.

The PTI has joined the SIC in the hope of securing reserved seats in the assembly, which are allotted proportionally.