Lahore: Nawaz Sharif's PML-N has attained a majority in Pakistan's National Assembly after 18 independent candidates joined the party, placing it in a position to form government at the centre without striking an alliance with any other party. Several independent candidates belonging to influential political families of Punjab and Sindh provinces are among those who have joined the PML-N, which emerged the single largest party in the May 11 general elections.
They include the Legharis of Dera Ghazi Khan, the family of former President Farooq Leghari, and the Sherazi brothers of Thatha district of Sindh. Earlier, the Legharis were with the PML-Q and the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf while the Sharazis were with the Pakistan People's Party.
The Hiraj family of Punjab's Khanewal district has also joined the PML-N after ditching the PML-Q. Maverick lawmaker Jamshad Dasti, who won polls to a parliamentary seat in Muzaffarghar district as an independent candidate after saying goodbye to the PPP, has also joined hands with the PML-N.
Dasti also defeated the father of former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in another parliamentary constituency. To win a simple majority in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament, a party or coalition needs 137 of the 272 directly elected seats....
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07:31 PM, May 19, 2013
Islamabad: In the backdrop of Nawaz Sharif's positive remarks on ties with India, powerful Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has suggested Pakistan's Prime Minister - designate to take gradual initiatives with utmost caution for improving relations with New Delhi, a media report said on Sunday. Kayani made the suggestion when he called on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, set to become Prime Minister for a record third term following his...
12:38 PM, May 19, 2013
Kozhikode: Kerala and Himachal Pradesh on Saturday announced they will strengthen implementation of their rural development projects by sharing information about feasible models and best practices. Ministers and senior government officials from the two Congress-ruled states met here to discuss ongoing projects and ways to enhance cooperation. Kerala's Panchayats and Social Welfare Minister MK Muneer gave details about local self governance in the state, community farming and the Kudumbashree programme...
05:04 AM, May 19, 2013
Lahore: Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Saturday met Prime Minister-designate Nawaz Sharif for over three hours, exchanging views on regional situation and the war on terror. The meeting, sought by Kayani, was the first between the two since Sharif's PML-N emerged victorious in the May 11 general election and is all set to form the government. During the meeting, which lasted over three hours, the army chief...
08:09 PM, May 18, 2013
Islamabad: The PML-N and two nationalist parties have agreed to form a coalition government in Balochistan but differences remain on the issue of choosing a Chief Minister for the insurgency-hit province in southwest Pakistan. The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), which represents the Pashtuns living in northern parts of Balochistan, emerged the single largest party in the May 11 polls by bagging 10 of the 51 directly elected seats in...
03:45 PM, May 18, 2013
Islamabad: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who will travel to Islamabad next week to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, will also meet PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who is set to form Pakistan's new government. Li will meet Sharif on May 23. Sharif, whose PML-N emerged the single largest party in Parliament in the May 11 general election, is expected to arrive...
08:19 PM, May 17, 2013
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar defended on Thursday his repeated demand for special status to the state saying it (the status) will boost private investment in a big way to accelerate its industrial development. "I am pushing for grant of special status to Bihar only to bring private investment in a big way to expedite industrialisation process for generation of employment opportunities," he said in a function at Pataliputra...
12:20 AM, May 17, 2013
Ahmedabad: Asserting that NDA allies have no veto power on BJP's choice of prime ministerial candidate, party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had acknowledged in the past that the nominee will be from the saffron party. "BJP is part of NDA and we respect all our allies. But one thing is clear that the prime ministerial candidate will be of BJP and...
02:06 AM, May 16, 2013
Lahore: Imran Khan on Wednesday promised to cooperate with Nawaz Sharif to tackle key challenges like terrorism despite "serious political differences" with the PML-N chief who is set to become Pakistan's next Prime Minister. "We have serious political differences but we decided that we will work together to solve the country's problems, including terrorism," the cricketer-turned-politician said in a video message aired at a news conference by his Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf...
10:10 PM, May 15, 2013
Washington: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday called PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, set to become Pakistan's next Prime Minister, to congratulate him on his election victory and pledge to further strengthen friendly ties with Islamabad. "Today, the President spoke by phone with Nawaz Sharif, president of Pakistan Muslim League's (Nawaz) to congratulate him on his party's success in the May 11 parliamentary election," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney....
12:26 AM, May 15, 2013
Lahore: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, set to become Pakistan's next Prime Minister, on Tuesday reached out to his rival Imran Khan and suggested that the two of them should play a "friendly match". Sharif visited the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief at Shaukat Khanum Hospital, where he is recuperating after fracturing his spine in a fall at a campaign meeting days before the May 11 general elections. Sharif inquired about Imran's health...
10:54 PM, May 14, 2013
Islamabad: Nawaz Sharif's PML-N has emerged as the single largest party in Pakistan's landmark General Elections with 123 of the 272 Parliamentary seats but fell short of a majority and would form a government with support of independents and smaller parties. The PML-N's two closest rivals the Pakistan People's Party and Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf lagged far behind with 32 and 27 seats, respectively. Earlier, trends from the counting of...
08:50 PM, May 14, 2013
New Delhi: State-run BHEL on Tuesday said it will invest Rs 500 crore for setting up a manufacturing facility at Bhandara in Maharashtra. "BHEL is setting up a new Power Equipment Fabrication Plant at Bhandara in Maharashtra. The greenfield unit is being set up by the company at an initial investment of Rs 500 Crore and will provide direct employment to about 700 persons," BHEL said in a statement. The...
12:49 PM, May 14, 2013
Beijing: Pakistan may improve its ties with India and fine tune its anti-terror strategy under the new government headed by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, Chinese analysts have said. Under Sharif, the relationship between Pakistan and India might also improve, Wang Dehua, head of the South and Central Asian Studies Institute at the Shanghai Institute for International Strategic Studies told state-run Global Times said. "In 1999, Sharif managed to invite then...
12:44 PM, May 14, 2013
Islamabad: Nawaz Sharif's PML-N has emerged the single largest party in Pakistan's landmark general elections by bagging 122 of the 272 parliamentary seats that went to the polls on May 11, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. The PML-N's two closest rivals the Pakistan People's Party and Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf lagged far behind with 31 and 26 seats, respectively. Earlier, trends emerging from the counting of votes had shown...
12:36 PM, May 14, 2013
Chennai: Rejecting Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's charge that his party was behind the violence in various parts of the state, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss on Tuesday alleged that pro-Dalit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi was behind the incidents. "The Chief Minister's charge blaming PMK is far from truth," he said in a statement. Ramadoss claimed that he had evidence to prove his charge that VCK was behind the violence....
11:35 AM, May 14, 2013
New Delhi: Government sources on Tuesday said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan's Prime Minister elect Nawaz Sharif. India is likely to formally decline Sharif's invitation to Manmohan. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), however, has said that no formal invite has been received yet for Sharif's swearing-in ceremony. Sources, however, added that that Sharif may consider India's invitation a visit to soon. Speaking...
09:21 AM, May 14, 2013
Chennai: Sending a clear message to the political outfits that foment violence, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa warned of banning such parties, as she came down heavily on Pattali Makkal Katchi for the recent arson following the arrest of its leader S Ramadoss. The chief minister lashed out at the PMK in the state assembly and declared that her government would initiate steps to recover damages from the party...
08:53 AM, May 14, 2013
Islamabad: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who is set to be Pakistan's Prime Minister for a record third time, says that India and Pakistan should jointly address their fears. Meanwhile, Sharif on Monday invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his swearing-in ceremony. However, sources said that India is likely to formally decline Sharif's invitation to Manmohan. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has said that no formal invite has been received...
08:13 AM, May 14, 2013
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has emerged victorious in Pakistan elections. ...
11:35 PM, May 13, 2013
