Here’s what is happening across the border: Three Hindu candidates in Pakistan elections create history, and US warns IMF against Pakistan bailout.
National cricketers flock to Bani Gala to congratulate Imran Khan
Pakistan cricket team members led by captain Sarfaraz Ahmed visited prime minister-elect and former cricketer Imran Khan at his Bani Gala residence in Islamabad Tuesday, reported Geo TV.
Chairman Secretariat was bounded with joy when seasoned cricketers @waqyounis99 @SarfarazA_54 @MHafiz91
and @UmarGul_ met and congratulated @ImranKhanPTI and his team players @FaisalJavedKhan @DuraniIftikhar and @sayedzbukhari on #PTI marvellous victory in #GE2018 pic.twitter.com/G2dsBvg0mG— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 31, 2018
The visit comes after Khan was criticised for his speculated move of relieving Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi of his duties.
During the meeting, the cricketers including former captain Waqar Younis congratulated Khan for winning the elections and wished him their best.
Ahmed told Khan that the national team is performing well and is set to deliver better results ahead. Khan wished the players and hoped the national cricket team reaches number one position in sports.
Pakistan elects three Hindu candidates to create history
For the first time in Pakistan’s history, three Hindu candidates were elected from Muslim-majority areas in Sindh in the 25-July general elections, reported Daily Times.
All three contested on Pakistan Peoples Party ticket.
Mahesh Malani bagged the National Assembly seat from Tharparkar (NA-222), while Giyan Chand Essrani won a provincial assembly seat from PS-81. Hari Ram Kishwari Lal bagged the provincial assembly seat from PS-147 Mirpurkhas.
The three won as general candidates after the 2002 amendment in the Legal Framework Order (LFO) allowed minority communities ‘dual votes’. Under the concept of ‘dual votes’, minorities were allowed to vote for general seats and field candidates on the general seats.
Hindus comprise the largest minority community in Pakistan with a population of 75 lakh, mostly located in Sindh. Almost 90 per cent of the Hindu population in Pakistan belongs to Scheduled Castes.
Mike Pompeo says no to IMF bailout to Pakistan
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo warned the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Monday against any potential bailout to Pakistan’s new government that pays off Chinese loans, reported The Express Tribune.
In an interview with CNBC, Pompeo said US is looking forward to engagement with Imran Khan, the country’s prime minister-elect.
However, Pompeo added that he was strictly against IMF bailouts to pay Chinese lenders. “There’s no rationale for IMF tax dollars, and associated with those American dollars that are part of the IMF funding, for those to go to bail out Chinese bondholders or China itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, China and Pakistan decided to improve cooperation between in the aviation sector. Both the countries agreed to collaborate in different projects, Yao Jing, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, said Tuesday. Pakistani officials expressed appreciation for China’s cooperation in the development of the Gwadar airport.
Reham Khan shuts down comedian who called her a vengeful ex
Reham Khan, journalist and former wife of prime minister-elect Imran Khan, shut down Zaid Ali, a Canada-based Pakistani comedian, for indirectly calling her a vengeful ex-wife Tuesday.
My sincere dua is that you never have to live with a drug abuser & a cheat. I did & covered up until I found out he was cheating those who had voted him. Pakistan comes first. https://t.co/2193EkdJSU
— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) July 31, 2018
Khan was replying to Ali’s 30 July tweet saying he hoped to never have an ex-wife like her.
The only dua that I make before going to sleep is that I never end up with an ex like Reham Khan.
— Zaid Ali (@Za1d) July 30, 2018
Even as Khan fought back the troll, Twitter users seemed to have had a gala time hurling abuse at her.
We call her Imran Khan's Peshawari chapal😜😜😜😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🙊🙊🙈😂
— Rabia🐦🐱 (@RabiaSultana17) July 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/SyedNaqvi4/status/1024324214239711234
Khan, however, is no stranger to trolling. Soon after she announced her say-it-all autobiography, Khan was viciously attacked and made fun of on social media and national television.
US, Pakistan seek to resolve bilateral ties
The US and Pakistan vowed to restore bilateral ties at a meeting held in Washington between Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Ali Jahangir and US defence secretary James Mattis, reported The Express Tribune.
#SecDef Mattis welcomed #Pakistan Ambassador Ali Jehangir Siddiqui to the #Pentagon today. @PakEmbassyDC pic.twitter.com/hH2c84c4RV
— Jonathan Hoffman (@ChiefPentSpox) July 30, 2018
The issue of regional security in South Asia was also discussed at the meeting.
The US also said it will keep advocating for political participation of Pakistanis and will look for opportunities to work with the new government to strengthen ties.
The meeting was held even as US froze assets of three Pakistanis linked with anti- militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, reported the news daily.
The US State Department added Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil to its list of ‘specially designated global terrorists,’ saying he was a senior commander of the group. The US Treasury said Hameedul Hassan and Adbul Jabbar were responsible for funneling money to the LeT and paying salaries to its members.
Contributors: Alind Chauhan, Soniya Agrawal, Priyamvada Grover, Manisha Mondal, Rupanwita Banerjee and Sharanya Munsi