Pak PM holds on to slim majority

Pakistan's ruling party under new Prime Minister Imran Khan has maintained its slim majority in parliament after key by-elections, final results showed yesterday.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 15 seats of the total 36 on offer in polls held across the country on Sunday, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Its ally the Pakistan Muslim League, one of several parties with which it has formed a coalition government, won an additional two seats, bringing the coalition's total in the national assembly -- the lower house of parliament -- to 177 out of 342.

In Punjab, the by-elections were held for 11 seats, out of which the PML-N won six seats.

The main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) increased its seat count to 85.

The outcome of the by-election will not impact the federal or provincial government but help reinvigorate the opposition parties.

Talking to journalists after attending case hearing at the Accountability Court, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said the masses have witnessed the mess the incumbent government has created for them due to economic mismanagement.

The by-elections come after a national vote on July 25 propelled former World Cup cricketer Khan to power, an outcome that was rejected by the main opposition parties.