Here’s what’s happening across the border: Bilawal Bhutto’s first speech in National Assembly widely appreciated; 18-year-old completes toughest horse race.
Imran Khan vows to weed out corruption
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was elected Prime Minister of the country Friday. In his first address to the National Assembly, Khan said that it took 22 years of struggle to reach this position and he had not taken any “dictator’s” help for this, reports The Express Tribune.
"I did not climb on any dictator's shoulders; I reached this place after struggling for 22 years. Only one leader struggled more than me and that was my hero, Jinnah. Twice every month I will answer to the people in the Q/A session in assembly:" Imran Khanhttps://t.co/GLvl21QCrN pic.twitter.com/XZRn29DFAC
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) August 17, 2018
Khan, chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had managed to win with 176 votes out of 342 in the lower house of Parliament while his rival, president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif, secured only 96 votes.
According to the daily, the 65-year-old Prime Minister vowed to weed out corruption from Pakistan. He said, “We have to have strict accountability in this country; the people who looted this country, I promise that I will work against them”.
“The money that was laundered, I will bring it back — the money that should have gone towards health, education, and water, went into people’s pockets,” Khan added.
He also took a dig at the PML-N party, saying that his government will cooperate with them if they want to take up the issue of alleged poll rigging to court, and in case they decide to stage a protest against his coalition, the government will help them out with food, water and containers as well.
Bilawal Bhutto’s first speech in National Assembly
Pakistan People Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s first speech in the National Assembly has drawn appreciation from across the country.
Bilawal’s poised speech stole the show as he paid tributes to the “martyrs” who died in election-related violence and spoke about the requisites of a democratic system, reported Geo News.
The 29-year-old PPP chief also congratulated Imran Khan and hoped the new PM will erase the politics of hatred and fulfill all his promises. “If the Prime Minister-elect persists in spreading intolerance, in fanning the flames of bigotry, if he continues to undermine Parliament and the Constitution, then he will have to go through us and he will find us opposing every step of the way,” Bilwal said.
And I would like to conclude by wishing the Prime Minister-select, Good Luck: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as he concluded his maiden speech in Parliament
… that's 'select' btw
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) August 17, 2018
We must find the courage to look inward, to address our own faults – if we don't find the courage to confront violent extremism it will not only have consequences for our foreign policy & antagonize the world at large, it will damage our future generations: Bilawal's NA speech pic.twitter.com/6q41g2qths
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) August 18, 2018
Bilawal’s speech has won hearts as social media is flooded with words of praises and admirations. Bilawal concluded his speech by taking a dig at Imran Khan calling him ‘PM select’ instead of ‘PM elect’. Failing to understand the joke, Imran Khan whispered thanks and clapped.
Once again, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari demonstrates more maturity & greater clarity about the process he is a part of than either IK or SS.
So grateful, as a Pakistani, that he spoke of Haroon Bilour, Siraj Raisani, Ikramullah Gandapur & all others martyred in terror attacks.
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) August 17, 2018
Chairman @BBhuttoZardari only leader to pay tribute to the lives lost.
Exceptional 1st speech. Wish the PM select & his long years of container “struggle” good luck ????
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) August 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/Wabbasi007/status/1030469407087190016
PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pays a tribute to those killed in the run-up to the election. Ask for an investigation into each terrorist attack. Someone rising above toxic rhetoric.
— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) August 17, 2018
‘Imran did not want his sons to witness oath-taking ceremony’
As Imran Khan took oath as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan, his sons could not witness the much awaited ceremony, reports Pakistan Today.
According to News International, Khan’s, sons Sulaiman Isa Khan and Qasim Khan, are vacationing in Scotland instead of attending their father’s ceremony. However the real reason was revealed by Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith on Twitter saying, “the boys really wanted to be there but their father told them not to come.”
@Jemima_Khan this would be the biggest and happiest day in Imran Khan's life and political struggle… And it would be so hurting for him if his sons won't be with him… We Pakistanis request you for this happiness of our leader plz #PrimeMinister
— @Mariam22 (@maryamshabbir64) August 17, 2018
They wanted to be there. Their father asked them not to come. ??♀️
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) August 17, 2018
The former cricketer was once asked in an interview if he would bring back his sons to Pakistan, to which he replied that Jemima had his sons’ custody and he hoped they would come back once he gets elected as the Prime Minister.
Sidhu attends Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony
Navjyot Singh Sidhu, the only Indian MP who travelled to Pakistan for Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony, was seen in a long conversation with Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.
A ‘Dawn’ TV news anchor, commenting on this chance encounter, can be heard in this video clip saying, “Wonder what they are talking about!” Another one adds, “We are neighbours. We have no option but to live next to each other.”
Malala and overseas Pakistanis congratulate Imran Khan
In a tweet Friday, young Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai congratulated Pakistan’s newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan for his electoral victory, reports Dunya News.
She said she is also hopeful about Imran Khan’s focus on education for children of Pakistan as she looks forward to the effort new government is taking to offer “free and quality education” to 13 million out-of-school Pakistani girls.
Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has included education in its first 100-day plan.
Malala ended the tweet by saying that she also hoped to work with Khan in order to achieve this noble goal.
Just like Malala, overseas Pakistanis who could not vote in the elections, are also hopeful about new government will fulfill its promises.
18-year-old completes the toughest horse race Mongol Derby
Saif Noon (18) became the first Pakistani to attempt and complete the Mongol Derby, a 1,000-km horse race across the Mongolian steppe, Friday, reports Geo TV.
Considered the toughest and longest horse race in the world, Noon participated alongside with 43 other contestants.
Despite the fact that the Mongolian Airlines lost his survival kit and gears just before the race, Noon decided to carry forward, cobbling together supplies from whatever the other contestants could give him.
Quiet hero of the day, Saif Noon, lost his luggage en route to the start line but has cobbled together kit from the ever-generous derby field & is cracking on in great spirits. Something borrowed = good luck, we reckon! Go Saif! #mongolderby2018 #spiritofadventure pic.twitter.com/pfnMaytENf
— Mongol Derby (@mongolderbylive) August 7, 2018
Praising his determination, Noon’s mother Tahia said, “To stay in the race despite all the obstacles he has faced is really amazing. The family has been following him via the race organiser’s GPS and it’s been quite a journey.”
People from across the country extended their support to Noon and congratulated him via Twitter.
Day2 & #SaifNoon braving the @mongolderbylive – 1000km in 10 days – riding strong & proud across the most challenging and rugged terrain – at 18, he is the younger participant – may the force be with him #PakistaniHero pic.twitter.com/TBzRh3nTO0
— Mian Ehsan ul Haq (@ehsanulhaq31) August 10, 2018
Congratulations to all contestants of @mongolderbylive
What an Incredible story of resilience and bravery. Especially SN for his extraordinary courage to continue against all odds and making Pakistan proud ??. What a finish, You are star #Saifnoon #MongolDerby2018 pic.twitter.com/Z7gx5WdOm3
— ستارہ نور Sitara Noor (@NoorSitara) August 17, 2018
A few days ago at the start and now young Saif Noon has made it to the finish line! In a borrowed kit! What a guy! So proud and thank you all of you who helped and supported him #mongolderby2018 #Pakistan #hero pic.twitter.com/CN2K2sFk0a
— kamiar (kami) rokni (@kamiar) August 17, 2018
I know this is all I am tweeting about but here he is, the end of a gruelling 1000 km race. The comeback kid, the indomitable spirit that is #SaifNoon. Thank you @mongolderbylive , MB, @Jan20609667 and everyone for supporting him. And congrats to newly weds! pic.twitter.com/YRkYJDpAUD
— Maha Khan Phillips (@MahaKhanPhillip) August 17, 2018
Contributors: Priyamvada Grover, Manisha Mondal, Anagha Deshpande, Rupanwita Bhattacharjee, Alind Chauhan