The party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday received a comfortable majority in Pakistan's parliament after election authorities allocated seats reserved for women and religious minorities to major parties after this month's vote, dpa reported. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was allotted 35 out of the 60 seats reserved for women and six out of the 10 reserved for minorities, taking its tally of seats to at least 183 in the 342-member lower house of the parliament, the Election Commission of Pakistan said. The former ruling Pakistan People's Party became the second-largest party in parliament with 39 seats and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of former cricketer Imran Khan was third with 34 slots. Countrywide elections were held May 11. Polling in nine constituencies was cancelled or delayed. President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday called the first meeting of the incoming National Assembly for June 1, his spokesman said. Former two-time premier Sharif was expected to be elected next week as prime minister for a third time.
