Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Isaf (PTI)-sponsored or non-PTI-sponsored candidates are welcome to form a government if they can, and the PML-N will sit in opposition and “play the constitutional role”.

Addressing a presser today, the former PM said general elections were held despite concerns regarding weather and the security situation.

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He said baseless allegations were also levelled against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

“It is in front of the nation who staged sit-ins outside Parliament and held demonstrations,” he said.

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Shehbaz added it was “inappropriate” that on the basis of a mere 10-12 per cent of results, there was a declaration that independent were winning and parties were losing.

“So elections have happened and it was proven that out of political parties, PML-N is the biggest party. If you count independents, then their number is obviously greater — but among political parties PML-N is number one,” Shehbaz said.

Meanwhile, referring to independent candidates, the PML-N president said, “If they call themselves PTI-sponsored or non-PTI-sponsored — if they can form a government then they should. The president will not give them an invitation.

“On behalf of my party, independents are free, if they want to make a government, go ahead. We will sit in the opposition and fulfil our role,” he said.

In the general elections, independent candidates secured 101 seats, PML-N 75 while Pakistan Peoples Party won 54 seats in the National Assembly.