Imran Khan revealed the names while speaking to journalists in Adiala jail on Monday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) designated three PTI members, including Chief Misinter Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and opposition leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz to talk with the military establishment.
The former prime minister and PTI founder, Imran Khan, confirmed the names of these three individuals while speaking to journalists in Adiala jail during the hearing of the £190m corruption case.
On the question of holding talks with establishment, the former prime minister said: “I have authorised Ali Amin, Omar Ayub, and Shibli Faraz for these dialogues.”
Khan also made it clear in front of the media that only these three PTI leaders are designated to talk with the military establishment.
Imran Khan also told journalists that he never disrespected state institutions, despite court orders asking him not speaking against them. He also said that these directives from the court are against his fundamental rights protected by the Constitution.
Imran claimed that confusion regarding the name of the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will end today.
Former prime minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said on Sunday that he didn’t ever seen former Army Chief General (R) Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. General (R) Faiz Hameed breach the constitution.
Any wrongdoing should be addressed in a proper way, the former Prime Minister said on Samaa TV’s show “ Do Tok with Kiran Naz. He also talked about different domestic issues and Pakistan’s relationship with other countries.
Abbasi criticised the debate about Muhammad Aurangzeb’s selection as Finance Minister in the federal cabinet, emphasising the significance of competence rather than just party membership.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also advocated for accountability and said that the establishment of a truth commission is necessary to keep the facts transparent.
Abbasi also emphasised that the Prime Minister should chair the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to ensure quick and effective decision-making in economic affairs.
Senior politician Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar is reportedly seeking a return to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as per Geo News.
Having previously been associated with the PTI, Sarwar, currently the chief organizer of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), parted ways with Imran Khan’s party during last year’s no-confidence motion in April, leaving when Imran Khan was ousted from the prime minister’s office.
In March this year, Sarwar joined the PML-Q in the presence of its president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. In December 2021, Sarwar slammed Khan’s government by saying that the PTI had handed over everything to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
During the no-confidence motion, Sarwar, as the chief organizer of the PML-Q, defied Khan’s orders and explored the possibility of joining the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
However, this idea was rejected by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, citing Sarwar’s earlier defection to the PTI after the failed 2014 sit-in led by Khan and Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri.
Sarwar joined the PML-Q in March of the current year, assuming the role of chief organizer.
However, he has been residing in Scotland since several months, showing little interest in party affairs.
Despite initial hopes of the PML-Q gaining prominence, especially without Parvez Elahi and Moonis Elahi, it appears that Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan’s Istehekam Pakistan Party (IPP) is currently the frontrunner.
Sources reveal that Sarwar, for the past two weeks, has been reaching out to PTI leaders directly and indirectly, discussing his potential return to the party from his base in Scotland.
A senior PTI leader disclosed that Sarwar had expressed a desire to rejoin the party, but the PTI has not responded to the overtures thus far.
“The only person who can allow re-entry of Chaudhary Sarwar is Imran Khan but he has made it clear he will not forgive and forget those dozens of leaders who let him down in difficult times. Those who lobbied against Imran Khan and the PTI are not acceptable.”
Chaudhary Sarwar wants to join the PTI again because his family members want to run for elections on the party’s tickets in Faisalabad, as there are no seats vacant in PML-N ranks and no other option, said a source close to Sarwar.
The source also said that the senior politician’s son Anas, the Scottish Labour leader, also has an election coming up in Glasgow and there is a considerable Pakistani vote in the local constituency.
Another source said that so far the PTI had not shown any interest in the offer and it had no time to even consider it given the circumstances the PTI was facing in Pakistan.
When asked about efforts to rejoin the PTI, Sarwar didn’t deny it.
He said: “All options are on the table. Discussions at various levels are ongoing. I have not made a final decision yet. I will make the final decision soon.”
Sarwar joined PTI in 2015 after criticising Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, days after resigning as the Punjab governor. However, he was appointed to the post for a second time once the PTI came to power in 2018.
Sarwar’s allies said he was not happy as Punjab governor and didn’t like Usman Buzdar. He was sacked from the post around the no-confidence vote by the PTI government, with Omer Sarfraz Cheema being appointed as his replacement.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday held a meeting to review the situation evolving after President Arif Alvi’s unilateral announcement of a date for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
ECP decided to consult Attorney General for Pakistan and other legal experts in this regard.
The meeting was called to after the president announced April 9 as the date for the polls of provincial assemblies.
On Monday, Alvi exercising his power under Section 57 (1) of the Elections Act, 2017, announced the election date and further asked the ECP to issue an election programme in accordance with Section 57 (2) of the Act.
Alvi’s move was rejected by federal ministers who were of the view that the president had abrogated the Constitution and he had no right to announce the date.
The ECP stated that “the commission has been and will continue to make decisions without any pressure according to the Constitution and law”.
It added that the electoral watchdog is always ready to conduct an election within 90 days as per the Constitution and law, but nowhere in the Constitution, it is written that the commission will give the date for the election.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, September 27, stressed that the appointment of the new army chief will be through “law and constitution” and that “everyone is going to follow it”.
“They want to bring their own army chief… they are afraid that if a strong and patriotic army chief is appointed then he would ask them about the looted wealth,” the PTI chief had said about the government at a rally in Faisalabad earlier this month.
Imran had also called out the incumbent government for consulting an “absconder” and “convict” — former Prime Minister and PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif — for the crucial decision, claiming that it was against the Constitution.
At the press conference today, Shehbaz asked, “Did Imran Khan consult us before giving an extension to the army chief?”
He also said that he didn’t see anything wrong in consulting Nawaz. “What’s the point of criticising my talks with Nawaz? He is my leader and I discussed Pakistan’s issues with him,” he asserted.
The premier termed the audio leaks between key figures in the coalition government a “very serious lapse” as he announced that a high-level committee would be constituted to probe the matter.
Shehbaz said the “audio leaks” scandal was a critical matter and he was in the process of forming a high-level committee to probe into it.
“Who is going to visit the Pakistani prime minister from overseas now?” the PM questioned. “This scandal has put the prestige of a 220 million-strong nation at stake.”
“I am taking notice of this and a committee will be formed and reach the depth of this matter,” PM Shehbaz said.
Audio recordings of conversations between key government figures — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and some members of the federal cabinet — discussing governance matters privately surfaced over the weekend, prompting concerns over the security of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Sharif said that previously several audios relating to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan were leaked but no questions were raised on that. “Have you heard the conversation about diamonds? About the piece of land that was given to them as a gift? You don’t talk about it but you are discussing this matter,” said the PM.
“Imran Niazi brutally used his force to target opponents,” he reminded the media.
“He called [ex-FIA DG] Bashir Memon to his office and asked him to file cases against his rivals. This is on record. Did I amend the policy, there is no question about it. You must do justice. I will apologise to the nation if I did something wrong.”
“Imran also sold Toshakhana gifts, why aren’t those audios being leaked. The audios on the increase in sugar prices should surface […] this is a billion-rupee scam.”
“Imran said he will form a commission. Was anyone caught, was anyone punished? Billions of dollars from Pakistan were wasted,” the prime minister pointed out, claiming that Imran’s “corruption is a long saga”.
Shehbaz said that Imran did not spare any opportunity of “Dividing the army and institutions”, highlighting that the PTI chief was creating polarisation which could take the country towards destruction.
“This is an alarm bell. This man is a risk to the country,” he concluded.
Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday challenged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to name the agencies and the people working in them who he claimed had briefed him on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) alleged corruption.
Addressing a news conference today, the minister said, “Who used to give you these reports? Who used to tell you all these things? Name them.”
The information minister recalled that Khan had earlier said that the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja was done after he was given guarantee of his neutrality.
“You said the agency had given you guarantees about the CEC […] who had given you the guarantees? What did they say? And why were you receiving guarantees?”
“Did you ask for those reports? And who from the agencies gave you reports?”
“Imran Khan sahab, stop this drama and lies. If you have the courage, tell us who from what agency used to give you reports on PPP and PML-N […],” she demanded.
“You slung mud on other people, and you say the agencies were giving you briefings? Do you have any shame?” she questioned. “You made a joke of such a big country’s democracy. Do you think your sins will be forgiven if you say agencies were giving you briefings? Then take their names.”
Aurangzeb alleged that after the no-confidence vote, Imran “begged the neutrals to protect him”.
“But when the institutions played the role of neutrals, which is a line sketched by the Constitution […] you are now, once again, asking them to help you and save your false politics”.
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday, August 18, wondered about the role of the ‘establishment’ in curbing corruption, saying he always thought that ‘establishment’ was against corrupt rulers.
“Why did you let these corrupt leaders imposed upon the country when you yourself [establishment] would say that they are corrupt,” added Khan.
He also revealed that agencies had informed him about the corruption scandals of incumbent rulers when he was the prime minister. Imran also reiterated that attempts were being made to disqualify him and bring back Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified for life by the Supreme Court, from London to put both of them in the same position.
The ruling coalition attacked Pakistan Thereek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in its verdict on Tuesday unanimously ruled that the PTI did indeed receive prohibited funding and issued a show-cause notice to the party.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif said that the commission’s verdict on PTI’s prohibited funding case “charge sheets Imran for violating the Constitution”.
“Proven yet again that he is a certified liar. Nation should ponder over the implications of his politics funded by foreigners,” tweeted the prime minister.
ECP verdict on PTI foreign funding case chargesheets Imran Niazi for violating the Constitution, submitting false affidavits & accepting foreign money. Proven yet again that he is a certified liar. Nation should ponder over the implications of his politics funded by foreigners.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz chided Khan for being a “liar and money launderer”.
“The one who keeps giving lectures about liberating the nation from slavery turned out to be a slave of external powers,” tweeted Maryam.
قوم کو غلامی سے نجات کا بھاشن دینے والا خود بیرونی طاقتوں کا غلام ثابت ہوا۔ان سے پیسہ لیتا رہا اور اس پیسے کو ملک میں فتنہ فساد اور بربادی کے لیے خرچ کرتا رہا۔ اس فارن ایجنٹ کو پاکستان کی ترقی کو روکنے،CPEC کے خاتمے کےلیے لانچ کیا گیا تھا۔سرشرم سے جھک گیا#ImportedIKImportedPTI
“Khan is the only politician of Pakistan who has been proven, in a single judgement with irrefutable evidence, to be a liar, corrupt, a money launderer, and acting on the influence of external forces,” she said.
فتنہ خان پاکستان کا پہلا اور واحد سیاستدان ہے جو ایک ہی فیصلے میں ناقابلِ تردید ثبوتوں کے ساتھ بیک وقت جھوٹا،کرپٹ،منی لانڈرر اور بیرونی قوتوں کے ایماء پر کام کرنے والا ثابت ہوا ہے۔اس کا اپنا ہی بنایا ہوا جھوٹا ایمانداری اور حب الوطنی کا بت آج اوندھے منہ گر گیا۔
In a press conference in Islamabad, senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the judgement has proved the ex-prime minister is the “biggest thief”.
سب سے بنیادی بات یہ ہے کہ پی ٹی آئی اور عمران خان جو دوسروں پر جھوٹ الزامات لگاتے تھکتے نہیں تھے آج ثابت ہو گیا اس ملک میں سب سے بڑا چور عمران خان ہے۔@SKhaqanAbbasipic.twitter.com/h6bkd91ALX
Defending the ECP decision, PTI leaders insisted that the ECP failed to prove foreign funding against the party.
In a press conference, Fawad Chaudhry said that overseas Pakistanis raised funds for the PTI and the ECP had acknowledged their narrative that it does not come under “foreign funding”.
In the next phase, the PTI will prove that the 16 accounts are legal, adding that these accounts are “subsidiary accounts”, said Fawad Chaudhry.
“No party has the right to hide its funding from the people,” said the PTI leader.
“Today’s decision is not correct,” Fawad added.
PTI leader Asad Umar said that the ECP has fulfilled its wish by announcing the verdict in the party’s funding case.
“The nation wants an answer as to why funding reports of the PPP and PML-N are not being released?” asked the PTI leader.
شوق پورا کر لیا الیکشن کمیشن نے ممنوعہ فنڈنگ کیس پر فیصلہ سنا کر. اب قوم جواب مانگتی ہے کے مسلم لیگ نواز اور پیپلز پارٹی کی فنڈنگ رپورٹ کیوں نہیں جاری ہو رہی؟ سپریم کورٹ اور ہائی کورٹ کی ہدایت کو پامال کر کے الیکشن کمیشن پی ڈی ایم جماعتوں کو پناہ دے رہی ہے
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said on Monday that “bench-fixing” is a crime similar to “match-fixing” and suo motu notice should be taken over it as a “specific” anti-PML-N bench being constituted for one-sided decisions.
“One or two judges, who have always been anti-PML-N and anti-government, are repeatedly included in the bench. Bench-fixing is a crime just like match-fixing,” said Maryam.
In a joint press conference alongside the coalition government leaders, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz said, “Institutions are insulted from within, not outside. One wrong decision blows up an entire case. Criticism isn’t needed where the right decisions are taken.”
Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) petition against the chief minister’s July 22 election, Maryam said that the Supreme Court’s (SC) doors were opened late at night and the registrar gave “sufficient time” to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to draft its appeal.
“This is not what happens in our justice system. PTI was given ample time to draft its petition by the registrar, while the common man is given months for the date of hearing.”
‘Have you ever heard of a trustee chief minister?‘
Maryam gave several examples of the PML-N’s legal woes, claiming that the party’s leaders were being discriminated against.
“Have you ever heard of a trustee chief minister?”
She said that since Hamza was elected chief minister of Punjab, he was not being allowed to work. “He goes from parliament to court, and back and forth. What justice is this?”
‘Did any court take suo motu notice against Khan? Are the suo motus only for the PML-N and its allies?’
Maryam also alleged that court decisions were favouring the PTI even though they were mocking the judicial system. She questioned the state of the judicial system and where the country was headed if decisions were given in favour of those who “abuse and bully institutions”.
Maryam said that during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tenure, the country witnessed a downfall in all sectors and the courts played “an important” role in that. The PML-N leader asked which crime had Khan not committed — he was involved in inciting violence, attacking property, and in the attack on parliament and PTV.
“Did any court take suo motu notice against Khan? Are the suo motus only for the PML-N and its allies?” she asked.
Criticising the judges for the recent remarks during the “Azadi March” hearing, Maryam said that despite PTI blatantly violating the court’s orders, the party was still given leverage.
“After he blatantly violated the orders, the judge said that maybe he didn’t receive the order; they also said maybe they burnt the green belt to save themselves from tear gas.”
’Three people cannot decide country’s fate’: Bilawal Bhutto
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asserted that the country’s democratic parties had only one demand: the formation of a full court bench.
“We all want full court bench. Whatever you decide then will be according to the law and Constitution and we will trust it.”
“It cannot happen that only three people decide this country’s fate. That only they decide whether this country is run through a democratic system, an elected system or a selected system.”
Bilawal said that all the parties in the coalition government wanted a democratic system. “It cannot be possible that three people change Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution with just the stroke of a pen,” said Bilawal.
“And it has been three months and some powers, people, political parties and conspirators are unable to tolerate […] a campaign is being run in the country to keep Imran Khan at the forefront,” said Bhutto.
“We did not let any conspiracy succeed in the past and we will not let it happen now. We want institutions to remain uncontroversial. If only three judges give a decision, then we will not be able to control the political situation that will develop in this country.”
“Institutions meddle in political affairs to protect the state but do they ever think that the state is weakened due to their interference?”Maulana Fazl
“Institutions meddle in political affairs to protect the state but do they ever think that the state is weakened due to their interference?”
“You are sitting behind a wall. You may decide whatever you want […] and make politicians the culprit in the eyes of the public and defame them. But hold yourself accountable,” added Maulana Fazl.
He went on to say that the government supported what Maryam said earlier, saying that this was their “united stance”.
“Don’t take this nation to a point where people rebel against institutions,” he said.
The JUI-F chief said that it was very easy to “create difficulties”.
“If you expect us to not create any difficulties for you, then it is also your obligation to not create difficulties for us […] if there’s support for parliament, institutions and the government, the country will stabilise.”
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-seated 25 dissident members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in May. Out of these, five seats were reserved. Later, ECP notified PTI members on all five reserved seats while there will be by-elections on the rest of the 20 seats today (Sunday, July 17).
Why is it important?
The results of the by-elections will decide the fate of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz as the Supreme Court ordered a run-off poll for CM Punjab on July 22, five days after the by-polls are held. The magic number required to be the Punjab CM is 186.
Four Lahore Constituencies:
There are a total of four constituencies in Lahore.
1- PP-158
In PP-158, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Rana Ahsan Sharafat will contest against PTI’s Mian Akram Usman. The constituency falls under NA-129, where PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq is a Member of the National Assembly (MNA). PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s former close aide Aleem Khan won the constituency as a PTI candidate in 2018 but in these elections, he will not contest and will instead support the PML-N candidate.
In PP-167, PML-N’s Nazir Chohan will contest against PTI’s Shabbir Gujjar. In 2018, Chohan won the constituency as a PTI candidate. The constituency falls under NA-133, where PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik is MNA.
Areas: Mainly Johar Town
3- PP-168
In PP-168, PML-N’s Malik Asad Ali Khokhar will be against PTI’s Malik Nawaz Awan. In the 2018 general elections, Khokhar won from this constituency. The constituency falls under NA-133 and NA-131, where PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik and PML-N’s Saad Rafique are MNAs respectively.
Areas: Walton, Cavalry, Kot Lakhpat, Kainchi
4- PP-170
In PP-170, it will be PML-N’s Muhammad Amin Zulqarnain versus PTI’s Zaheer Abbas Khokhar. Previously, in 2018, Zulqarnain won this constituency as a PTI candidate. The constituency falls under NA-134, where PML-N’s Rana Mubashir Iqbal is MNA.
Areas: Wapda Town, Valencia, Township, and some rural areas of Lahore
Who will win Lahore?
Talking to The Current, senior journalist Majid Nizami said that the PTI claims that it will win three seats out of the four in Lahore in the upcoming Punjab by-polls. They think that the PML-N will win PP-168. Similarly, the PML-N also claims that it will win three out of four seats in Lahore. They think that PTI will win PP-170. According to Nizami, it is quite likely that both parties will win two seats each. From PML-N, Khokhar in PP-168 and Nazir Chohan from PP-167 are the strong candidates. From PTI, Mian Akram Usman from PP-158 and Zaheer Abbas Khokhar from PP-170 are likely to give a tough time to their competitors.
5- Multan: PP-217
In Multan, PML-N’s Salman Naeem is standing against former Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s son Zain Hussain Qureshi. The constituency was previously won by Naeem in 2018 when he defeated Shah Mahmood and became a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA).
According to Majid Nizami, Naeem is likely to become MPA again this time.
6- Sahiwal: PP-202
Three candidates are contesting against each other in PP-202. From PML-N, there is Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial who is fighting against PTI’s Major Ghulam Sarwar and Independent Candidate Adil Saeed Gujjar. The constituency falls under NA-149, where PTI’s Murtaza Iqbal is MNA. PTI has a chance of winning this seat.
Areas: Chichawatni Tehsil
7- Bahawalnagar: PP-237
Under this constituency, there are two candidates. PML-N’s Fida Hussain Wattoo will fight PTI’s Syed Aftab Raza, who is contesting for the first time. It is pertinent to mention that Wattoo earlier won this constituency in 2018 as an independent candidate. He later joined the PTI. Despite the fact that in the past Wattoo was elected MPA thrice in a row, Majid Nizami says that there is going to be a tough competition between these two.
Areas: Minchinabad
8- Lodhran: PP-224
PTI’s Amir Iqbal Shah will contest against PML-N’s Zawar Hussain Warraich, who won the constituency in the 2018 general elections. Zawar is also considered close to Jahangir Tareen. This seat is likely to fall in the hands of the PTI.
Areas: Dunyapur
9- Lodhran: PP-228
PML-N’s Nazir Ahmed Baloch, PTI’s Captain Retired Izzat Javed Khan and Independent Candidate Pir Syed Rafi Bukhari are contesting. Baloch already won the constituency in 2018. The constituency falls under NA-161, where PTI’s Mian Muhammad Shafiq is MNA. Reports indicate that the PTI is in a tight position here. The tough competition will take place between Pir Syed and Baloch.
Areas: Rajapur
10- Rawalpindi: PP-7
PML-N’s Raja Sagheer Ahmed who won the constituency in the 2018 elections is going to fight against PTI’s Lt. Col. Shabbir Awan. The constituency falls under NA-57, where PTI’s Sadaqat Ali Abbasi is MNA. In this constituency, the PML-N is ahead of PTI.
Areas: Kahuta and Kallar Syedan
11- DG Khan: PP-288
The son of PTI MNA Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Abdul Qadir Khosa, is contesting on the ticket of the PML-N. He will be against PTI’s Saif-ud-din-Khosa who is ahead in the race.
Areas: Tehsil DG Khan, Shah sadar din and Ghaus Abad.
12- Khushab: PP-83
In PP-83, PML-N’s Ameer Haider Sangha is going to lock horns with PTI’s Hasan Aslam Awan and Independent candidate Malik Asif Bha. In this constituency, there is going to be a three-way fight.
Areas: Jauharabad, Khushab city and Hadali
13- Layyah: PP-282
Tahir Randhawa, on a PML-N ticket, is now fighting against PTI candidate Qaiser Abbas Magsi. Magsi contested the 2008 and 2013 elections on a PML-N ticket and won as MPA. Despite this, Randhawa is ahead of Magsi.
Areas: Chowk Azam and Chaubara Tehsil
14- Muzaffargarh: PP-272
Syeda Zehra Bukhari will be against PTI’s Moazzam Khan Jatoi. Zehra is the wife of PTI MNA Basit Sultan Bukhari and she won in 2018 from this constituency. Meanwhile, Jatoi is a former minister and MNA. Syeda Zehra has a stronghold.
Areas: Shaher Sultan
15- Muzaffargarh: PP-273
PML-N’s Muhammad Sibtain Raza is going to be up against PTI’s Yasir Arfat Jatoi. Raza won the constituency as a PTI candidate in the previous elections. However, this time Jatoi is likely to become MPA.
Areas: Ali pur Tehsil
16- Bhakkar: PP-90
PML-N’s Saeed Akhbar Khan Nawani will fight against PTI’s Irfan Ullah Khan Niazi who just joined the party. Nawani won as an independent in 2018 and later joined the PTI. Here, Nawani is said to be ahead of Niazi.
Areas: Darya Khan Tehsil
17- Faisalabad: PP-97
The former Provincial Minister in Punjab, PML-N’s Ajmal Cheema is up against PTI’s Ali Afzal Sahi in Faisalabad. Although, Cheema won the constituency in 2018, Sahi is likely to win this seat. Sahi is the son of the former speaker of the Punjab Assembly Muhammad Afzal Sahi.
Areas: Chak Jhumra Tehsil
18- Jhang: PP-125
PML-N’s Faisal Hayat Jabboana will be competing against PTI’s Mian M. Azam Cheela and Independent candidate Iftikhar Ahmad Khan Baloch. Jabboana won as an independent in 2018 and later joined the PTI. PML-N candidate is likely to leave his contenders behind.
Areas: Athara Hazari Tehsil
19- Jhang: PP-127
In PP-127, PML-N Mehr Aslam Bharwana is going to fight against M. Nawaz Bhawarana. In 2018, Aslam Bharwana won as an independent candidate. There is going to be a tough competition between the two.
Areas: Jhang Tehsil
20- Sheikhupura: PP-140
PTI’s Khurram Virk is going to fight against Mian Khalid Mehmood who won the MPA seat from this constituency in 2018. The constituency falls under NA-121, where PML-N’s Javed Latif is MNA. However, Virk is likely to win this seat. It is pertinent to mention that according to Majid Nizami, a TLP candidate is also contesting against these two and has a pretty strong position.
The newly formed coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to restore the departmental cricket structure, which has been dysfunctional as a result of the implementation of the 2019 constitution, ARY News reported on Monday citing sources.
The departmental cricket was banished in 2019 under the then patron-in-chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Imran Khan, leaving thousands of players and officials jobless.
Sources privy to the development told ARY News that the new government has also decided to restore first-class cricketers fired from government departments under Mani’s tenure as a result of new PCB constitution.
It is pertinent to mention here that departmental cricket, which has played a pivotal role in the promotion of the sports in the country for last 45 years, was ended with former prime minister Imran Khan’s approval in 2019.
According to the new domestic structure, only six teams eligible to play the First Class Cricket in the country, two from Punjab and one each from Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces and the federal territory.
On the other hand, reports are circulating regarding the resignation of the current chairman of the PCB – Ramiz Raja, who was nominated by the ex-PM Imran Khan. Reports further suggest that former PCB Chairman Najam Sethi is a strong candidate for the position.
