English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest world news

Nawaz Sharif’s loyalist Shahid Abbasi elected interim Prime Minister of Pakistan

Published

on

Shahid Abbasi elected interim Prime Minister of Pakistan

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The former petroleum minister is expected to hold office only for 45 days as Nawaz has made it clear that his brother and chief minister of Punjab province, Shahbaz Sharif lead the government as soon as he is elected to the Pakistan National Assembly

Days after the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Nawaz Sharif from his membership of the country’s National Assembly forcing him to step down as Prime Minister, lawmakers in Pakistan elected Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a long-time loyalist of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief as the country’s interim Premier.

Abbasi was, on Tuesday evening, administered the oath of office by Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain at the President House, making him the 18th Prime Minister of the country.

Through the day the streets and even the Pakistan National Assembly saw high drama – both by supporters of Nawaz Sharif and his detractors. Sharif was disqualified by a five-judge Bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court on July 28 in a case related to last year’s Panama Papers leak which had revealed how his family amassed wealth through dubious means and invested it through shady deals.

While it was clear that Sharif’s brother Shahbaz would be the former Prime Minister’s choice for succeeding him, the name of Abbasi was among the few probables that was doing the rounds for being chosen as the interim Prime Minister.

As such Abassis tenure is expected to be á short one. The country’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has already named Shahbaz Sharif as his brother’s obvious successor to the Premier’s post. Since Shahbaz holds only a provincial seat, he must first enter parliament by contesting the seat left vacant by Nawaz Sharif. He will also have to resign as member of the state legislative of Punjab and a new Chief Minister will have been identified.

Until Shahbaz is elevated to the high office, Abbasi would basically be serving the purpose of keeping the Prime Minister’s seat warm for the ‘rightful heir’ to Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N too is resigned to this reality.

Abbasi, 58, hails from the famous hill resort of Murree in Rawapindi district of Punjab province and was minister for petroleum in the ousted government. A die-hard supporter of Sharif, he put up a strong defence of the ousted leader after being elected interim Prime Minister, saying that Nawaz Sharif may have been disqualified by the Supreme Court but remains the people’s premier”.

“I am grateful to you all, for following the democratic process — whether you voted for or against me. I am grateful to the people of Pakistan, and I am grateful to the ‘people’s prime minister’, Nawaz Sharif,” Abbasi said soon after winning the vote in the lower house of Pakistan’s National Assembly to be named the interim Prime Minister.

In a tongue-in-cheek taunt at Nawaz Sharif’s arch rival, former cricketer and Opposition leader Imran Khan who led the campaign for Nawaz’s disqualification, Abbasi said: “I am also grateful to the opposition and Imran Khan for remembering us in their daily slandering.”

“Everybody wants the [prime minister’s] chair. Tell me, who in this house doesn’t? It is to the PML-N’s credit that all party members rallied unanimously behind whoever was nominated by our leader (Nawaz Sharif). Within four days, the democratic process is back on track. There were no defections. There was no dissension in our ranks”, Abbasi added.

In ä passionate address, the interim Prime Minister said: “Justice mandates that though a 1,000 guilty people may go free, not even one innocent person should be wrongfully convicted. I will not go into details of Friday’s (Supreme Court) decision — I only want to say that there will soon be another court — one held by the people. There will be no Joint Investigation Team there.”

Abbasi conceded that he was going to hold the office only for a short period saying, “I am the country’s prime minister — be it for 45 days or 45 hours” but added  that he wasn’t elected “just to keep the seat warm.”

“If I am here for 45 days, I will try to complete the amount of the work that requires 45 months,” he vowed.

One of the wealthiest parliamentarians in Pakistan, Abbasi was part of Nawaz Sharif’s team which was tasked to address the energy crisis in the country.

A staunch loyalist, Abbasi had stood by Nawaz Sharif when his government was toppled in 1999 by General Pervez Musharraf in a military coup that followed the Kargil War between India and Pakistan.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Latest world news

Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

Published

on

Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

Continue Reading

LATEST SPORTS NEWS

USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

Published

on

The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

Jaishankar raises deaths of three Indian sailors with Marco Rubio, lodges strong protest

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an attack that killed three Indian sailors, stressing that lethal action against commercial shipping is unjustified.

Published

on

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday spoke with Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s strong protest over recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.

According to reports, Jaishankar told Rubio that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was not justified and underlined India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of civilian seafarers operating in the region. The conversation came days after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello near the Oman coast.

The incident has triggered diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington. India had earlier summoned a senior US diplomat to register its concerns and seek accountability following the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that actions endangering civilian shipping undermine maritime safety and stability in a strategically important region.

India reiterates concern over maritime safety

India has stressed the importance of protecting civilian seafarers and ensuring the security of international maritime commerce. Officials have expressed concern over multiple incidents involving Indian crew members in West Asian waters in recent days.

The deaths of the three sailors have also sparked calls within India for stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-affected maritime zones.

Background of the incident

The attack involved the tanker Settebello, which was operating near Oman when it was struck during ongoing tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and maritime operations in the Gulf region. Initial reports indicated that Indian crew members were among those affected, and later confirmations established that three Indian sailors had died in the incident.

India has maintained that civilian shipping should not become a target and has continued diplomatic outreach to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com