Imran Khan Won't Invite Modi or other Foreign Leaders

Islamabad: Imran Khan has decided against inviting foreign leaders and celebrities to his oath taking ceremony as Pakistan's new prime minister as he wants to keep the event very simple, according to a media report on Thursday, 2^nd August 2018.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the single largest party in the elections held on July 25. The 65-year-old leader is expected to take oath on August 11.

His party had initially planned to invite several foreign leaders and personalities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and Indian cricketers like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Navjot Singh Sidhu to the event.

However, in an apparent change of heart on Thursday, Khan has opted against a fancy ceremony, Dawn newspaper reported.

"The PTI chairman has directed to stage the oath-taking event with austerity," Dawn newspaper quoted PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry as saying.

"He will take his oath in a simple ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr (President House)," the spokesperson said. "It has been decided that no foreign personalities will be invited to the ceremony it will be a completely national event. Only a few close friends of Imran Khan will be invited."

"There will be no show of extravagance at the event," Chaudhry said. However, he added that some foreign friends of Imran will be invited to the event. "A few of Imran's friends are the only foreign nationals being invited to the event," he said.

President Mamnoon Hussain will administer him the oath of the office. After his party's victory in the elections, Khan has pledged to take austerity measures to save taxpayers money.

He had announced that he would not move into the Prime Minister's House and a final decision on the fate of the building would be decided by the party.

Hope Imran Khan's Govt Helps Build Terror-free South Asia: India

New Delhi: As official results of the Pakistan election confirmed Imran Khan’s PTI to be the single largest party, India on Saturday, 28^th July 2018 hoped that the new government will work to build a better South Asia that is “free of terror and violence”.

The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement to say, “We hope that new Pakistan govt will work constructively to build a safe, stable and secure South Asia free of terror and violence.”

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who is all set to become the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, addressed the nation on Thursday and said that he is willing to improve ties with India and end the blame game which has been detrimental to the sub-continent.

In its first reaction to Imran Khan’s coming to power, the Modi government on Saturday responded positively to his message and said that India desires “a prosperous and progressive Pakistan” at peace with its neighbours.

"I am a person who arguably knows the most people in India because of my days in cricket. We can resolve the poverty crisis in South East Asia. The biggest problem is Kashmir," Khan had said, suggesting that the two sides should come to the table to resolve it.

"We want to improve our relations with India, if their leadership also wants it. This blame game that whatever goes wrong in Pakistan's Balochistan is because of India and vice versa brings us back to square one," Khan said on the Kashmir situation.

He said good India-Pakistan relations will be beneficial for the entire region and suggested to increase trade ties between the two neighbours.

The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place.

Legendary Cricketer Imran Khan set to Rule Pakistan

Legendary Cricketer Imran Khan set to Rule Pakistan

Islamabad/ Karachi: Legendary cricketer turned politician Imran Khan is almost set to become the new Prime Minister of Pakistan with his Party Pakistan Tehreek –e-Insaf (PTI) getting the substantial lead over Nawaz Sharief’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) in the General Election 2018 held Wednesday, 25^th July 2018 amidst sucide bomb blasts by ISIS killing about 34 people and injuring more than 36 people in Quetta of Balochistan.

As Pakistan Election  results are pouring in and early trends have given Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) a substantial lead in about 103 seats out of 272 in the Pak National Assembly while  Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) leads in 73 seats.  Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of former president Asif Ali Zardari leads in 39 seats whil others lead in about 60+ seats. In case of a hung National Assembly, the PPP and Bilawal Bhutto could play kingmaker.

Independents are leading on 23 seats according to trends available for 209 seats out of 272 seats. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) - an alliance of traditional religious parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami led by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl headed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan led by Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani and Tehreek-e-Jafaria led by Allama Sajid Naqvi - is leading on 11 seats.

Pakistan's National Assembly comprises a total of 342 members, of which 272 are directly elected whereas the rest - 60 seats reserved for women and 10 for religious minorities - are selected later through proportional representation among parties with more than five per cent of the vote. A party can only form the government if it manages to clinch 172 seats in total.

 In case of Hung Assembly Imran Khan may have to move to get support form other party to form his Govt.

Will Cricket Player Imran Khan will shed the old enimity towards India and show sports mentality to improve the relations ? India has to wait and see.