Here’s what is happening across the border: PTI gains advantage in race to form government in Punjab, Afghan president calls for better ties.
Nawaz Sharif shifted from Adiala jail to hospital
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad after suffering serious cardiac complications Sunday, reported Dawn.
Sharif had Sunday morning complained of pain in his left arm and chest. Doctors in the jail later carried out an electrocardiography (ECG), which revealed irregular heartbeat and clots in his blood.
Pims spokesperson Dr Waseem Khawaja told Dawn that Sharif is out of danger, and that “proper medical care is being provided to him”.
Sharif has high sugar levels and is suffering from stress, Times of Islamabad reported.
Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz, and son-in-law Safdar Awan are currently serving prison sentences in the Avenfield luxury flats case.
PTI gains upper hand in race to form government in Punjab
Amid a tug of war between the Pakistan-Tehreek–e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) to form the government in Punjab, nine independent MPA’s (Members of the Provincial Assembly) Sunday agreed to support Imran Khan’s party, reported The Express Tribune.
The PML-N had emerged as the single largest party in Punjab with 129 seats, while the PTI ended up in second place with 123 seats in the 297-member (directly elected) Assembly.
Independents had managed to secure 28 seats, with both parties now courting them to reach the majority figure of 149 MPAs (directly elected).
With the support of nine independent MPAs-elect and PML-Q, PTI has gained the upper hand in the race to form the government. Party leaders like Abdul Aleem Khan and Jahangir Tareen met the independents and convinced them to support Imran Khan.
Before the elections, PTI had denied tickets to these independents that it has now brought back into its fold.
One of the new PTI MPAs, Muhammad Salman Naeem said, “I support Imran Khan and can never sell my loyalty to anyone else.”
Afghan president hopes for better ties, extends open invitation to Pakistan
Congratulating Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan on his victory in the general election, Afghanishtan President Ashraf Ghani has extended a hand of friendship to Imran Khan, reported The Express Tribune.
Ghani invited Imran Khan to visit Kabul soon through a telephonic conversation. He later tweeted, “We both agreed to overcome the past and to lay a new foundation for a prosperous political, social and economic future of both countries.”
I just spoke to @ImranKhanPTI and congratulated him on the victory in parliamentary elections. We both agreed to overcome the past and to lay a new foundation for a prosperous political, social and economic future of both countries #Afghanistan and #Pakistan.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) July 29, 2018
I extended an open invitation to Mr. Khan and he expressed his wishes to visit Kabul soon.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) July 29, 2018
According to the newspaper, PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said Khan has also told President Ghani that Pakistan wants complete peace in Afghanistan, and it desires to better the relations between both the countries.
Khan, in his first address to the nation, had also said that his government would like to have better ties with Afghanistan.
Ballot papers found in the garbage in Karachi
A large number of burnt ballot papers and voting cards were found from a heap of garbage in Qayyumabad area of Karachi, reported Dunya News. The recovered papers were stamped and were votes cast in favour of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and All Pakistan Muslim League, the report said.
The discarded ballot papers were found in the NA-241 constituency, considered as a stronghold of the MQM since 2002; the PTI emerged the winner here this time around.
Reacting to the news, Bhakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s daughter, tweeted that this was “how her party lost Karachi.”
This is how we “lost” #Karachi – plenty of videos & pictures available from how votes were counted to how they were altered & disposed. thank social media for helping to expose how free & fair these elections were. #Pakistan #Elections2018 https://t.co/KdhiUijMn4
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) July 28, 2018
Following the discovery, various political parties staged protests and demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan investigate the matter, reported The Express Tribune.
If this is free and fair election then i am speechless. Stamped Ballot Papers found in Garbage in NA-241. Those ballot papers which are in favour of PPP Candidate Mouzam Ali Qureshi. So called New Pakistan. @BakhtawarBZ @AseefaBZ @BBhuttoZardari #ElectionIrregularities pic.twitter.com/d5Xcqxtcqa
— Sheryar Bhagat (@sheryarbhagat) July 28, 2018
Sindh governor steps down, questions Imran Khan’s plans on ties with India
Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair tendered his resignation to President Mamnoon Hussain Saturday night, reported The Express Tribune.
Questioning the transparency of general polls, Zubair pointed out that recounting took place at some polling booths while it was barred in others.
“This is to enable post-poll rigging,” he said while addressing the press. He also said that Pakistan needs free press and judiciary in order to progress.
He further criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan’s plans of developing ties with India. “Every time we talked about bettering relations with India, Khan criticised us … would he not do the same now?”
Contributors: Alind Chauhan, Anagha Deshpande, Hansa Kapoor, Manisha Mondal, Prateek Gupta, and Soniya Agarwal