Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the by-elections have made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people.
Khokhar was of the opinion that instead of forming the government, elections should have been held immediately. He also said that the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should have been done by a government with a fresh mandate.
“Difficult decisions should be made by a government that has a mandate of five years, it is not possible that we have sky-rocketing inflation and people shower us with flowers,” said Khokhar.
“Political parties are still stuck in the 90s, the by-elections made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people, political stability will be further eroded, and governance will become difficult. The country and economy need stabilisation, which is possible only through general elections,” said Khokhar.
If they have won seats through people’s mandate, CM should step down: Malik Ahmad
“In all fairness, if they have won seats through the people’s mandate, then the CM [Hamza Shehbaz] should step down and let them form a government,” said Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to The News.
“Once the people have spoken, they are the sovereign and if they have spoken in favour of Imran’s narrative for general elections, then they have spoken. Then let there be a fresh mandate. Otherwise, every day there will be a new crisis,” added Malik Ahmad.
Imran Khan to decide when Shehbaz Sharif will be removed: Fawad Chaudhry
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would decide when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be removed.
Speaking to Geo News, Fawad Chaudhry said that all the political parties need to end the ongoing political crisis and show maturity.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Assembly seats while the ruling PML-N only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.
A 90-year-old Indian woman who is visiting her family home in Rawalpindi has expressed her desire to visit Murree and Islamabad during her visit. She was talking to Geo News reporter Azaz Syed.
Reena Verma had to leave when she was only 15 due to partition. After waiting for 75 years, Reena Verma arrived at the Wagah-Attari border on Saturday (July 16).
As soon as she arrived in Pakistan, Verma set off for Rawalpindi with teary eyes to visit her house in Prem Niwas.
“I am beyond thrilled. All my life I dreamed of this. I wanted to return to my home, the street,” she said while talking to The Quint, an Indian news media outlet.
“Ever since I received the visa, or since I applied for the visa, those memories are returning of my family…of everyone,” she added.
She joined a Facebook group called the India-Pakistan Heritage Club earlier in 2022 and made a post expressing her intention to track down her ancestral home.
“Mr Sajaad Husaain from the group told me that if I tell him where my house used to be, he will find it. And finding my house was not difficult at all because it is surrounded by a lot of landmark buildings. I explained to him clearly and he located my house and sent me pictures.”
She quickly applied for a visa but in March 2022, it was denied. She did not give up though.
The 90-year-old received a three-month visa from the Pakistani High Commission in May this year.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Assembly seats while the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked the PML-N workers for their tireless efforts and said that Maryam Nawaz ran a great election campaign. “I would like to thank Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz for conducting peaceful elections in Punjab.”
میں ضمنی انتخابات کیلئے انتھک کوششوں پر پاکستان مسلم لیگ ن کے راہنماؤں اور ورکرز کا مشکور ہوں. مریم نواز نے پارٹی کیلئے بہترین انتخابی مہم چلائی. پر امن انتخابات کے انعقاد پر وزیرِ اعلی حمزہ شہباز کی قیادت میں پنجاب حکومت مبارکباد کی مستحق ہے.
Congratulating PTI for the big win, Chairman Imran Khan thanked his party workers and supporters of Punjab for what he called not just defeating the PML-N but the entire state machinery.
“The only way forward from here is to hold free and fair polls under a credible Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The PTI chairman said that now decisions would be taken by masses not in closed rooms,” said Khan.
I want to first thank our PTI workers & voters of Punjab for defeating not just PMLN candidates but the entire state machinery, esp harassment by police, & a totally biased ECP. Thank you to all our Allies, PMLQ, MWM & Sunni Ittehad Council. pic.twitter.com/TgFqQ7EDj0
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, on the other hand, called for introspection following the defeat of the ruling PML-N in its political heartland.
Maryam took to Twitter and said that the “defeat should be accepted with an open heart”.
“The PML-N should accept the results of the by-polls with an open heart as it is the decision of the masses,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted. She added that winning and losing were part of politics; therefore, the party should now focus on its weaknesses, identify them, and then overcome them. “God willing, everything will be fine,” said Maryam.
مسلم لیگ ن کو کھلے دل سے نتائج تسلیم کرنا چاہییں۔ عوام کے فیصلے کے سامنے سر جھکانا چاہیے۔ سیاست میں ہار جیت ہوتی رہتی ہے۔ دل بڑا کرنا چاہیے۔ جہاں جہاں کمزوریاں ہیں، ان کی نشاندہی کر کے انھیں دور کرنے کے لیے محنت کرنی چاہیے۔ انشاءاللّہ خیر ہو گی۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 17, 2022
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif blamed the “difficult decisions” taken by the Centre for its failure, according to a Daily Jang report.
PTI’s Secretary General Asad Umar termed PTI victory in the high-voltage Punjab by-elections as a milestone in Pakistan’s political history.
Asad Umar also stated that PTI’s core committee meeting would be held today (Monday) with Imran Khan in the chair, where the PTI would take a future course of action.
Asad Umar also said that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would be elected as chief minister of Punjab on July 22, adding that Shehbaz Sharif is now only the “Prime Minister of Islamabad”.
Speaker Punjab Assembly and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that if Imran Khan asks him to dissolve the Punjab Assembly, then he will dissolve the assembly in two seconds without thinking.
Elahi further said that Imran Khan worked the hardest, and he [Elahi] had won many by-elections, but the strategy Khan made was perfect and he [Khan] used his energy to the fullest.
Actor Neelam Muneer took to her Instagram stories to share a private message by a fan. The screenshot contains a netizen’s message in which he tells the Mere Meherbaan diva that her looks are a mixture of Hollywood actresses Monica Anna Maria Bellucci and Cindy Crawford.
Neelam termed it as an interesting message from an interesting fan.
The talented actress recently in an exclusive conversation with The Current, revealed why she rejected to play Shakra in Zahid Ahmed starrer Ishq Zah e Naseeb. The role later fell in stellar performer Yumna Zaidi’s lap.
“It was a very good project, the director (Farooq Rind) is amazing, it aired on HUM TV and was a proper package.”
She then spilled that the reason of turning it down was because there was a problem with her dates. She wasn’t available to shoot the project in the given time span. “There was a clash of dates and I felt I won’t be able to manage.”
Muneer concluded on this topic by saying, “Yumna did a very fine job in the drama, I did watch the show though.”
Last year, Yumna mentioned that her role in Ishq Zahe Naseeb was initially offered to Ayeza Khan and Neelam Munir who turned down the role as its screen time was less than the other female part played by Sonya Hussyn.
In the fun interview, Neelam also opened up about her traveling preferences with A-list actors Ahad Raza Mir, Bilal Abbas Khan and Sheheryar Munawar.
On being asked with which hero would she want to travel on a private jet, an auto-rickshaw or a car. The Wrong Number actress was given an option of these three actors.
She said, “Bilal ke saath auto pe, Ahad Raza Mir ke saath private jet pe chali jaungi and Sheheryar ke saath car pe.”
Seems like Neelam is fond of the Hum Tum star the most.
The Mere Meherbaan star also opened up on her alleged engagement. When asked if she is engaged, the Chakkar diva stated that although she wouldn’t mind getting married at this stage of her career, however there is no truth to this speculation.
“Maine koi hint nahi dia aisa, people are curious to know what is happening in my life so I responded to the fan on Instagram.”
However, the stunning actress mentioned that she wouldn’t mind marrying at the peak of her career as she thinks that it works.
The rumour mills went buzzing when the Qaid-e-Tanhai heroine responded with a shy-face emoticon to a netizen’s query on the same.
Actor Aymen Saleem who was last seen in Paristan on HUM TV has cleared the air regarding her relationship with co-star and friend Arslan Naseer.
While Replying to a question of a fan on Instagram, she said, “So I and Arslan have always been just costars/friends. In fact, I’d like to request fan pages to not to treat us as a couple. It can get very awkward and uncomfortable. I hope you guys can respect and understand that.”
The duo have a strong fan base and are adored by their fans who have been shipping them since Chupke Chupke‘s launch.
Earlier this year, Arsalan took to his Instagram stories to share his stance on Valentine’s day. Terming the day as a curse.
Punjab Police is locating Zaheer Ahmed to arrest him on the request of the Sindh Police, head of Prime Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit Salman Sufi tweeted.
“Upon Sindh Police request to arrest accused Mr Zaheer, Punjab Police has been asked to locate and arrest him and Child Protection Bureau has been intimated to keep the Child in protection center. There is no leniency for Child abuse,” said Salman Sufi.
Dua Zehra Child Marriage
Upon Sindh Police request to arrest accused Mr Zaheer, Punjab Police has been asked to locate and arrest him and Child Protection Bureau has been intimated to keep the Child in protection center.
There is no leniency for Child abuse.
— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) July 17, 2022
On Saturday, Karachi Police said that they had discovered enough evidence against The Minor supposed husband and other accused in a case involving her alleged kidnapping from Karachi and subsequent teenage marriage in Lahore.
The investigating officer of the case, DSP Shaukat Ali Shahani, stated this in a progress report, saying that statements from witnesses, and an analysis of the call data record (CDR) from suspect Zaheer’s cell phone revealed his presence in Karachi on the day The Minor went missing.
The progress report was filed before Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Muhammad Mehboob Awan.
The report added that cleric Hafiz Ghulam Mustafa, Asghar Ali, and Zaheer Ahmed, as well as his 21 missing relatives, had been identified as suspects in the crimes of kidnapping, which are punishable under Section 363 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and solemnizing child marriage, which is punishable under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013.
An audio call between former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and another man, Gul Zaman, has been leaked.
In the audio leak, it can be heard that two are talking about a “payment” being made to PML-N’s Mian Jaleel Ahmed Sharaqpuri.
Following the news, Zaman came forward with his side of the story. He said that Rasheed called him and started talking about some payment and Sharaqpuri. “I snubbed him and asked him right away,” he added.
He claimed he hasn’t met Sharaqpuri and Sharaqpuri also doesn’t know him. Gul Zaman said he has no clue why Rasheed said all that.
While talking to Samaa News, Sheikh Rasheed confirmed the authenticity of the leak. According to him, all of this was a joke and denied any payments being made.
In a video message, he further clarified that Sharaqpuri is innocent and blamed the government for the leak. He said that the government has a problem with Sharaqpuri giving his resignation to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
Sharaqpuri said that it was a pre-planned audio leak. He said he doesn’t know Sheikh Rasheed much. He further added that Rasheed is Imran Khan’s enemy and is a fraud.
The former MPA announced his decision along with Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry tweeted before Sharaqpuri’s resignation that some PML-N MPAs are soon going to tender their resignations.
According to Fawad Chaudhry, another PML-N MPA Kashif Mehmood has been disqualified. He claimed that now the PML-N and PPP have 173 MPAs including the independent candidates in the Punjab Assembly. PTI has also the support of 173 MPAs.
Sharaqpuri’s resignation has put the PML-N in a tight spot as it is already in a neck-to-neck contest with PTI-PMLQ over the Chief Minister’s (CM) slot.
All eyes are set on today’s by-election results, which will decide the Punjab government’s fate.
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.
Indian rapper Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia aka Badshah has messaged Pakistan singing sensation Asim Azhar after enjoying his latest track Habibi.
On Friday, Asim shared a screenshot of the chat he had with the Indian artist on his Instagram Stories. Badshah messaged, “Tripping on Habibi.” He added the 100% emoji and a red heart emoji. The Humraah singer replied, “Means so much coming from you brother.”
To this, Badshah added, “Kya hi bandiya bhai, khatam melody. What a song you’ve made bro, the melody is great!” Azhar thanked him saying, “Lots of love big bro!” Badshah sent a folded hands emoji, used to show respect.
Asim also commented on a video of the Paani Paani crooner in which he and his friends can be seen jamming on the latest chartbuster.
The Ghalat Fehmi crooner had earlier shared Habibi on his Instagram with the caption, “Had a fight with your partner and you don’t know how to make it up? Habibi — the new song by Asim Azhar — is THE song for you. It’s the patch-up song of the season and a whole new vibe. Listen, feel and rekindle the love.”
He also shared a fun video with his clan on Twitter.
Punjab by-elections are all set to take place tomorrow in 20 constituencies across the province. Many observers have pointed out that the chief minister candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, has not been seen in any campaigns.
Talking exclusively to The Current, sources close to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that the efforts being made by the PML-Q leader for these by-polls are more than what the PTI has done.
“We have assigned 800 of our own people to help in the PTI in the four constituencies in Lahore apart from 400 female workers who are campaigning and helping with election preparations in these constituencies. In total, we have 1,200 people on the ground who will be working alongside PTI tomorrow in Lahore only.”
The Current’s sources further revealed that the PML-Q leader is also in touch with the “powerful quarters” and have asked them to remain neutral. “If they don’t give any undue help to PML-N, the PTI will win 13-14 seats.” The sources further said that if they are not neutral, then the results will be vice versa.
The sources told The Current that since Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is the Speaker, he cannot participate openly in the campaign due to the rules set by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
