Page 4 - Nawaz Sharif

Highlights: SC to decide on validity of electoral bond scheme tomorrow

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Shehbaz may become next Pak PM as coalition set to cross majority mark

Shehbaz Sharif is expected to become Pakistan's new prime minister as the coalition of leading political parties led by him is set to comfortably cross the simple majority mark to form the next government, ending speculation about the future of the administration after elections produced a split mandate. Shehbaz Sharif along with Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan Peoples Party, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) met at the residence of Shujaat Hussain of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for a consultative meeting and Tuesday night and agreed on government formation. Today we have united to tell the nation that we all accept the split mandate. I am thankful to Zardari and Bilawal (Bhutto) that they decided for their party to vote for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he said and thanked the other gathered leaders as well. PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that party supremo Nawaz Sharif has nominated the party president a

Israel-Hamas war: Panic rises in Rafah as UN warns of a slaughter

PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, who was widely expected to be the next Prime Minister of Pakistan, has instead nominated his brother, former PM Shehbaz Sharif to lead the next coalition government.

Our mandate has been stolen in dark of night: Ex-Pak PM Imran Khan's PTI

Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's party on Wednesday alleged that its mandate has been stolen in the dark of the night after major political parties in the country decided to form a coalition government led by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif. In a surprise move, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday night nominated Shehbaz, 72. as the prime ministerial candidate instead of the party supremo and three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif. Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said that Imran's mandate has been stolen in the dark of the night. In a post on X, Hasan said, Pakistan is being put on [the] road to further destabilisation. Referring to a possible coalition government led by the PML-N, he said, The decision to induct a bunch of criminals to form governments, who have been rejected by the people, reflects a myopic view of the grave challenges the country is beset with.

Ensure transparency, respect people's will: White House on Pak elections

The White House has called for ensuring a transparent election process in Pakistan and said there is a need to respect the will of the Pakistani people. US President Joe Biden is aware of the elections in Pakistan, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Tuesday. "Obviously, the president is very much aware. Millions of Pakistanis turned out to vote last week, including record numbers of women, members of religious and ethnic minority groups, and young voters," Jean-Pierre said. "So certainly, we congratulate the Pakistani people for participating in last week's elections, including poll workers, civil society members, and journalists and election observers who have protected Pakistan's democratic and electoral institutions," she added.

Nawaz nominates brother Shehbaz for Pak PM, daughter Maryam for Punjab CM

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb made the announcement on social media platform X

Shehbaz affirms Nawaz Sharif to become Pakistan's PM for record fourth time

Pakistan's former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif will become the prime minister for a record fourth time. "I had said that Nawaz Sharif would become prime minister for the fourth time. And I maintain today that he is going to be the PM for the fourth time," Shehbaz told a press conference at the party's headquarters here on Tuesday. When asked whether he was no more favourite to grab the top post, he said: "My candidate for the PM slot is Nawaz Sharif." The now 74-year-old leader, Nawaz Sharif first took power in 1990 but was forced out three years later by corruption allegations -- a theme that has dogged his career. He came to power for the second time in 1997 and held the prime minister's post till 1999 when he was deposed in a military coup after plotting to sideline army chief of staff Pervez Musharraf. More than a decade later he was back in power in 2013, but fresh graft allegations emerged when his

No democracy can function, no govt can be formed in Pak without Imran

No democracy can function and no government can be formed in Pakistan without jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, a senior party leader asserted on Tuesday as rival political parties were in talks to form a coalition government. Expressing astonishment at reports of a power-sharing formula being discussed between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party leader Latif Khosa described it as a joke that rival political parties were putting forward such a proposal. The 71-year-old jailed cricketer-turned-politician and PTI founder will have to be brought back, he said. Who are they - who have been rejected by the people - to divide among themselves... No Assembly or Parliament can function without Imran Khan. No democracy can function and no government can be formed with Imran Khan. "So rid yourself of the misunderstanding that by minusing Imran they will be able to operate a democracy or the government. You will hav

Bilawal's PPP split on whether to join coalition govt or sit on in Oppn

The Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan Peoples Party which won the third largest number of seats in the National Assembly in the elections appears to be split on whether to join a coalition government or sit on Opposition benches. The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the PPP which met in Islamabad to deliberate on the post-poll scenario and proposals regarding the coalition government has decided to reach out to all political parties, including the PTI-backed independents, for a possible power-sharing deal. Addressing a press conference after the CEC meeting on Monday night, Senator Sherry Rehman said, The PPP will approach all (political) parties, and a committee will be set up. The committee will be formed on Tuesday, while the CEC meeting which ended without reaching any final decision will also resume at 3 pm. A highly reliable source within the party said this was the main reason for the party's central executive committee which met on Monday.

UN Secretary General Guterres following Pak polls situation very closely

In the wake of the general elections in Pakistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the situation in the country very closely and has urged the authorities and political leaders to refrain from violence and avoid actions that could increase tensions. Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, made these remarks at the daily press briefing here on Monday. On the elections in Pakistan, I can tell you that he is indeed following the situation very closely and continuing to monitor the situation following the general elections, Dujarric said while responding to a question on the Secretary-General's reaction to the outcome of last week's election in Pakistan. Guterres calls for resolving all issues and disputes through the established legal frameworks and for human rights and the rule of law to be fully respected in the interest of the people of Pakistan. The Secretary-General urges the authorities, and political leaders to maintain a calm atmosphere and

Pakistan parties' coalition talks hit speed bump over who becomes PM

Pakistan's benchmark stock index fell 2.8% Monday after dropping 1.8% on Friday

Ready to work with any government that takes power in Pakistan: US

The US is ready to work with any government that comes to power in Pakistan, a State Department official said on Monday, amid rumours of horse-trading in the absence of a clear majority after general elections in the country and also the delay in declaring results on all National Assembly seats. Contrary to its earlier claim, the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday blamed the suspension of Internet and mobile services on February 8 -- when countrywide polling took place -- and said it did "create hindrance" in declaring results promptly. It also claimed that the delay did not harm "any specific political party". In the US, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference, "I don't think there is a new Pakistani government yet. I believe there are still discussions going on about the formation of a government." "But one of the things that we have said leading up to the elections, and we'll continue to make clear, is that whoever the ...

Almost dozen Independents declare support to Nawaz Sharif's PML-N

Almost a dozen Independent candidates who won the Pakistan general elections on February 8, joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Samaa TV reported on Tuesday

Pak poll panel denies rigging charge but owns up to 'few irregularities'

"Immediate decisions are being taken on complaints filed," the poll panel added in its statement

Pak elections: Nawaz, Bilawal eye new alliance to run federal govt

The leaders of both parties engaged in substantive discussions regarding the prevailing political landscape and the imperative of collaborative efforts for the betterment of the country

Has Pakistan's military finally lost its influence over country's fate?

In often dysfunctional Pakistan, citizens have typically seen the army as a functional and trustworthy institution

Pakistan's old guard parties near coalition deal to thwart Imran Khan

The parties of the Sharif and Bhutto clans "agreed in principle to save the country from political instability," according to a statement posted on X last night

What's likely to come after Pakistan polls for markets and military?

It's harder to see a scenario where Khan's PTI forms a government given the military's opposition to it, analysts say

Pakistan polls: PTI-backed Qadir jumps ship, joins PML-N after victory

'Waseem Qadir, the successful independent candidate from National Assembly Constituency NA-121 Lahore, officially announced his joining of Pakistan Muslim League (N),' said PML-N in a post on X

Highlights of the day Mizoram CM to present state budget on Feb 27

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