TEHRAN - Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) chief, who led his party to a thumping victory in general elections, is likely to be sworn in as Pakistan’s new Prime Minister before August 14, which is the country’s Independence Day.

His party announced that it was reaching out to smaller parties and independent candidates to touch the magic figure of 137 seats required to form the government.  
PTI is leading the pack with 116 seats, followed by Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 64 seats and Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) with 43 seats. Though the PTI has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly, the party still needs to forge an alliance with other parties.

PTI leader Naeemul Haq told media persons late on Saturday that consultations were going on with other parties to touch the 137 mark. “We have done our homework and he will take oath as Prime Minister before August 14,” Haq said.

Meanwhile, in a surprise development, PPP and PML-N are expected to meet in a couple of days to devise a joint strategy to deny PTI a chance to form the new government, according to news reports. If PML-N and PPP join hands and manage to woo other smaller parties as well, PTI will have a tough time in forming the new government, believe observers.