News Analysis |
Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is scheduled to take his oath as the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on August 18th. Spokesperson of the party, Fawad Chaudhary, has said on Friday that the newly elected members of the National Assembly will take oath on 13th August which will be followed by the election for the Speaker of the house.
“The procedure takes two to three days, hence it has been decided that the oath-taking would take place on August 18,” he announced, adding that preparations for the ceremony would kick off from Saturday. Imran Khan’s party secured 116 seats in the General Elections and got a majority to form a government in the Center. The party is likely to form governments in KPK and Punjab as well.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will, however, face an organized opposition by the forces of the status quo and it will be tested for his government to defeat all those forces to implement its idea of Naya Pakistan.
Moreover, Senator Faisal Javed also spoke to media and said that three cricketers from India have been invited to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the Prime Minister Imran Khan. “Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Navjot Singh Sidhu have been invited,” he said, adding that Pakistan cricket team had also been invited to the ceremony.
Cricket legends from India and Kaptaan's old friends Kapil Dev, Sidhu and Sunil Gavaskar have been invited to attend Oath Taking Ceremony of Pakistan's PM Imran Khan @sherryontopp @therealkapildev @36notout
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) August 10, 2018
According to media reports, the Mamnoon Hussain had decided to postpone his foreign trip in order to administer oath to the next prime minister. President Mamnoon Hussain was scheduled to visit Edinburgh from August 16 to August 19. “The President will now embark on his trip after the oath-taking ceremony,” sources said.
Read more: Imran Khan’s concrete reach out to military
The Idea of Naya Pakistan: PM-elect Addressed the Nation
The Chairman PTI and Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan addressed the nation on August 26th. Khan thanked the people of Pakistan for trusting in his leadership. He also outlined his agenda which he intends to achieve while staying in the office.
“Thanks to God, we won,” he begun with. “We were successful and we were given a mandate,” the 65-year-old cricketer-turned-politician said during a live broadcast, adding that there was “no political victimization” in the acrimonious contest. Khan praised the people of Balochistan who came out to cast their votes despite all fears and threats.
Imran Khan’s party secured 116 seats in the General Elections and got a majority to form a government in the Center. The party is likely to form governments in KPK and Punjab as well.
At the same time, PM-in-waiting said he will work to uplift the lives of disempowered and marginalized people across the country. We will build up Pakistan while keeping into our mind the framework of the state of Madina, he said. “I want to share the kind of Pakistan I envision ─ the type of state that was established in Madina, where widows and the poor were taken care of,” he explained. “Today our state is in shambles. [But] all our policies aim to help the less fortunate prosper,” he said.
Imran Khan assured the PML-N and other parties that his government will assist them to investigate any polling station they want to. He clarified that this election was the “fairest” one the history of Pakistan. “If you think there has been rigging, we will assist you in the investigation if you have any doubts. We will stand by you. I feel that this election has been the fairest in Pakistan’s history. If any party has any doubts, we will open up the results of those constituencies for investigation.”
Read more: Will Imran re-write the history by taking oath on August 17?
He also commented on improving ties with India, resolving Kashmir and relationship with the US on the basis of equality. While commenting on Afghanistan, Khan said that “they [Afghans] have suffered most in the ‘war on terror’, and before that in the Afghan jihad. Peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan,” he said, adding that he envisions open borders with Afghanistan reminiscent to those within the European Union.
Interestingly, the opposition parties in the country have formed an alliance to counter the government led by Imran Khan. PML-N, PPP, ANP, MMA and other parties like PSP have come forward to allege that the election were rigged and the incoming government won’t have the mandate to run the affairs. Imran Khan has, however, made it clear that his government will facilitate the opposition to look into the rigging allegations at all levels.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will, however, face an organized opposition by the forces of the status quo and it will be tested for his government to defeat all those forces to implement its idea of Naya Pakistan.