PAKISTAN GETS ITS NEW PM

By
fraaz
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66
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After a week of political chaos, backchannel contacts, palatial intrigues and covert deals, lady luck finally smiled on Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday as the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) got him elected from the Lower House of parliament as the 25th prime minister of the country.
Ashraf was the covering candidate for Makhdoom Shahabuddin, but the issue of non-bailable arrest warrants against Shahabuddin and strong resistance by the Chaudhrys of Gujrat against Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and Qamar Zaman Kaira paved the way for Ashraf.
Once a regular visitor to the Prime Minister’s House as a mere MNA, Ashraf finally made it to the grand palace meant for chief executive of the country. This is no doubt an achievement which an average parliamentarian like Ashraf could have only dreamed of.
Raja secured 211 votes while his opponent, Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, bagged 89.
During the daylong activities, the coalition parties made all out efforts to convince Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Fazlur Rehman, succeeding at the eleventh hour with Fazl withdrawing his candidature and announcing that his party would abstain from the election process.
“Raja Pervez Ashraf has got 211 votes while Sardar Mehtab Abbasi has got 89 votes. So, Raja Pervez Ashraf is declared to be elected as the prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” said National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza who presided over the session.
Ashraf was one of the three candidates the PPP had fielded to contest for the coveted prime ministerial slot. However, Makhdoom Shahabuddin and Qamar Zaman Kaira had withdrawn their nominations before the session started.
Born on December 26, 1950 in Sanghar, Sindh, Ashraf served as the minister for water and power from 2008-2011, and later was made minister for information technology.
He has been held responsible for load shedding dilemma the country has been facing since 2008 and has also been questioned by the apex court in the infamous Rental Power Projects (RPPs) scam.
When the NA session started, around 310 members were present in the House, but only 300 took part in electoral process while 10 members from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) abstained from voting.
Absentees: Four NA seats are lying vacant, including those of Yousaf Raza Gilani, Fauzia Wahab, Farahnaz Isphahani and one member from FATA. Five PML-N members remained absent from the election process, including Khwaja Mohammad Asif, Raja Safdar, Anushey Rehman Khan and Rashid Akbar Niwani.
Around eight members of the PML-Q were also absent, including six members of the PML-Q Likeminded, including Arbab Zakaullah, Ghulam Hyder Samijo, Kashmala Tariq and Kishan Chand Perwani.
Moreover, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali was also not present due to his ill health.
Summersault by Faisal: Interestingly, PML-Q Parliamentary Leader in National Assembly Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat announced on Thursday that he would not vote for Ashraf as he was a petitioner in the RPPs case and had leveled serious allegations against Ashraf, but he ate his own words when he voted for Ashraf, raising serious questions about his “word”.
Sloganeering: With the announcement of election results, the coalition MPs resorted to desk-thumping while the PPP workers raised slogans of ‘Jiye Bhutto’ from lobbies and galleries.
As the proceedings started, Ashraf headed towards Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and shook his hand. After his election as the PM, Ashraf moved to the runner-up candidate Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and shook his hand as well.
New promises: After his election, PM-elect Ashraf assured the opposition that transparent election would be one of the top priorities of his government, while reconciliation would remain his manifesto.
“Parliament is the last hope for the people of Pakistan. The country can’t afford politics of confrontation. I invite the opposition for holding meaningful dialogue to jointly resolve all challenges faced by the country today. I hope they would accept my offer,” remarked Ashraf.
He also assured taking steps for the supremacy of parliament, strengthening of democracy and free, fair and transparent elections.
“Some undemocratic minds try to belittle democracy and the people of Pakistan. This is an irresponsible thinking that the country can be run against the aspirations of the people,” he said referring to the disqualification of his predecessor Gilani.
He spoke highly of Gilani for rendering services to strengthen democracy and supremacy of parliament.
He also praised the services rendered by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
“We are at a critical juncture of history that entrusts on political forces to manifest sagacity, unity and collaboration to take forward the democratic process,” he said.
He said religious extremists had inflicted heavy loss to the country as well as the religion of Islam and appealed to those fighting against the state to surrender their weapons and join the mainstream for the progress of the country.
“We do not hold institutions responsible for the mistakes of individuals. We shall not let the institutions confront each other.”
Ashraf said Pakistan desired peaceful relations with all neighboring countries – Iran, Afghanistan and India – and wanted peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues including the Kashmir issue, through dialogue.
Consolidating Pakistan’s relations with European Union and having relations with United States and other world nations on “equal footings” to promote peace and stability in our region and in the world, Raja said it would be his priority.
He said to meet the challenges and put in place a system based on good-governance as the country direly needed impartial and powerful accountability system.
“Accountability is a must for good governance and elimination of corruption. Therefore, I seek cooperation of the opposition parties to deliberate on pending Accountability Bill and bring it to the House to give country an effective accountability law,” he said.
“I am a human being. I can commit mistake. But, I promise that the office presented to me is the chair of martyrs and I pledge to work to my full capacity and capability to promote good governance for strengthening the country and the welfare of our people.”
Mehtab seeks fresh polls: Runner-up candidate Sardar Mehtab Abbasi demanded the government to implement courts’ verdicts, take measures to hold fresh and transparent polls and promulgate a unanimous accountability law.
In his speech, Abbasi said accountability law was pending with a parliamentary committee for last four years and needed to be finalized through evolving consensus among all parties.
“There should be no ‘holy cows’ and all should be held accountable. We are never and would be never a part of any conspiracy,” he said, adding that the PML-N members wanted to give their input to make law comprehensive and flawless so that it may nab all corrupt elements, asking the government to expedite promulgation of the law. He said the PML-N contested the election just to differentiate the politicians striving for people’s welfare from those supporting the ruling benches.
He criticized the poor performance of Raja Pervez Ashraf as the water and power minister and said the country was faced with a severe power crisis that had deteriorated the country’s industrial growth and swelled the unemployment. “Mr Prime Minister, you and no one else, is responsible for this chaotic situation,” he said.
Abbassi said the country was in dire need of national solidarity but unfortunately during the last four-and-a-half years, the government could not come to people’s aspirations by ending bad-governance and corruption.
He said the confrontation among institutions had increased and targeted killings in Karachi and Balochistan and drone attacks inside Pakistan’s soil were yet uncontrolled.
Abbasi also talked of poor performance of Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills besides mentioning the NICL, Punjab Bank and Rental Power Plants scandals.
He said the government should have joined hands with the opposition parties to devise a comprehensive strategy for next general elections.
The PML-N leader said the upcoming election should be fair, transparent as well as honest to the satisfaction of the people as it was only solution to steer country out of all issues.
He questioned why the government could not rid the country of circular debt worth Rs 400 billion that was proving the basic issue behind power crisis.
Later, PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah said a commission should be formed to probe the power crisis since 1993 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2012 and fix responsibility against those found responsible for the energy crisis.
PM, new cabinet takes oath: Later at night, Ashraf and his cabinet of ministers took oath at a ceremony held at the Presidency. President Asif Zardari administered the oath of office to the newly-elected chief executive of the country. He also administered oath to a 38-member federal cabinet comprising 27 federal ministers and 11 ministers of states.

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66 COMMENTS

  3. Failed as a Federal Minister – A projected failure as a Prime Minister. I’ll bet my behind that the letter wont be sent under the current Rule… It’ll be sent once the existing Government is over the hills and far, far away. Like always, when it’s too late for accountability.

  13. Entire muslim world wellcome mr.new prime minister janab Ashraf sahib,today brave pakistani peole one side fighting with enymies otherside they are fighting for deocracy from along time so these steps are part of democracy and make democracy strong.

  14. Till the time that the macho Chief Justice picks up something against him. It is high time that CJ may be promoted to Thanna Muhrar now. That is the only thing he can do.

  15. Now that we have Raja Rental as our PM, we need to watch what all he will rent out to foreigners. Its a shame that ppp could not come up with one single honest person as their canditate for the PM job. Besides being stupid and ignorant it must be a requirement to be a crook to be a member of ppp. SC needs to hurry up and drag him in court over his corruption in RPP so that we can get rid of him also. We don't have time to waste anymore.

    • It IS a requirement to be a thief, a crook & a con man.

      If you are a murderer, you get promoted to Mr. President. Just ask Zardari.

  16. I heard his speech on the PTV. I lost count on how many times he refered to the Bhutto family. When can we have a prime minister who can speak for his own vision of pakistan. Was the speech written for him by his master. I believe he will soon on his way to the tomb of Bhutto family. I wish him luck in the short time available to him.

  18. By the grace of Al mighty…PPP would be victorious…dushmanon…khas kar punjabion ka mun kala..!

    • FU from Punjab, Balochistan, KP & Sindh as well.

      People like you need to die a violent death… hopefully at the hands of Taliban or your mother.

  19. This is the defeat of superior human being culture, defeat of the elite of the society, yes democracy is the best revenge.

  20. Part II

    As for the new joker, I hope supreme court will ask him the same to write letter to swiss government. Zaradari is already convicted in swiss courts. Zardari has also spent many years in the prison in pakistan. How do you become a president of a country when you have such a facinating resume? I feel terribily sorry for the PPP workers at the grass roots level who are honest and hard working. The top leadership of PPP who I consider more like a gang has hijacked a vision of a great leader zulfiqar ali bhutto and also the fate of 180 million pakistanis. We will all need to rise against this gang and injustices soon, hopefully before it's too late. PPP supporters please consider joining an other party who you think is good for pakistan. You can change to any other party it is ok, you are not changing your religion. Lets open our minds.

    • you are so right Ahmed, its time you Pakistani go for another party. I not know that much of Pakistani politics but enough to know that its really corrupt at this moment. I hope, out of the bottom of my heart, your beautiful Pakistan will once be a country where it is good to live. Keep on trusing in God.

  21. Part I
    Since Gilani has not been PM effective April 26-2012, all his decisions since are being in question and may be over turned. I would suggest political parties in Pakistan to submit petition in supreme court that Gilani should also account and return all expenses that were incurred when he travelled to London with 80+ people. This should be counted as his personal expense and every single rupee shall be accounted for.

  22. Ahmad Wala,,,thank you for you sympathy…..and don't bother and keep your Moron Khan to yourself…!

  23. Looks like another Ummar Ka Lora has made it to the Office of PM. The citizens of Pakistan need to get their heads up or they will all end up like Ummar…

  25. The corrupt Bhutto family is the reason for Pakistan breaking into two. The stupid low life ppp workers will keep on supporting them because they are still struggling for roti, kapra and makan. If they ever succeed in obtaining these three things they will realize how stupid they have been but ppp leadership wants to make sure that their worker stay struggling for roti, kapra or makan and this way their minds would never open up to anything. Unfortunate part is that these lower workers don't understand this and they keep buying the promise of these three things. They are too stupid to realize that if ppp has not delivered on their promise for over 40 years, they never will. I feel sorry for ppp workers for their ignorance. On the other hand, I guess we need poor people too otherwise who would serve us? As long as ppp is around we will have servants 🙂

    • @B*A*S*T*A*R*D Daddy sahib, u r a crappy material and mindset. Mian Nawaz and family are the most corrupt people(I wont call them politicians becoz they r not at all). Even now they are doing politics just to safeguard their business interests. Then come generals who eat up eighty percent of country's wealth. Your leaders not only corrupt but lack vision and courage. They r losers at all ends. It s pity that u follow morally bankrupt, politically dumb-minded, obscurantist leadership who knows nothing except to support jihadies and promote culture of intolerance besides being master of financial corruption.

    • Daddy, the good thing is that every PPP worker has a price.

      They have a 'I want to be someone's slave' mentality so it should'nt be hard to get a handle on them. Chain them all & treat them like wild dogs (with utmost respect to wild dogs) & they will be happy & wagging their behinds in no time.

    • Their allegiance is to illiteracy & corruption which we can solve by locking them up in a kanal plot & handing each one a knife, they will slash & brutally murder each other for their own sadistic satisfaction.

  31. Failed as a Federal Minister – A projected failure as a Prime Minister. I'll bet my behind that the letter wont be sent under the current Rule… It'll be sent once the existing Government is over the hills and far, far away. Like always, when it's too late for accountability.

  43. Useless exercise! What we need are new elections without ppp and pml n. one thief replaced another thief by the Big Thief. Lol

  44. Your response tells me everything I would need to know. You are a die hard ppp jiayala who is working as a guard at some ppp politician's house. You make about 8-9 thousand rupees a month and you mother washes dishes at the neighbors house. Your sisters sweep the floors and you family has a hard time making ends meet. You believe in ppp be cause of the false promises they make and you have a dark future 🙂

    • I know you r hard-nut jihadi who can be broken only by a drone attack. Maybe Usama Bin Ladin has left behind a son. You must be having a big beard and sitting in some hujra and your daughter would be a Londi of Al-zuaheri, because you believe in Londi system in addition to having 4 wives system. PPP is the party of the poor and it is proud of this. Therefore, we dont take such taunt seriously because they are thrown by so called White collar fools who have no sense of history and come out during democracy, because they know martial law dictator will thrash them out. These cowards can only oppose a democracy and hide into their holes during military govt.

      • @Joaher, you don't have to tell me that ppp is party of the poor. I already know. If it wasn't for ppp, we wouldn't have any poor people. What would we do then? How would we survive? We have to have poor people and thats why we need ppp. Not everyone can be smart and rich. Thats why ppp was created. It was a way to group all the lowest of the low together and keep them separate from the rest. This way they could be easily identified because they will all be workers of ppp. The plan has succeeded so far for over 40 years. We have been able to isolate them from the rest of the population and have given them identity as ppp workers so they could be easily identified. They are all dumb and stupid. Joaher, you have the potential to be their leader at a low level 🙂 You are a border line retard so you qualify to be a small time leader.

      • @Joaher, there is nothing wrong with being a poor worker of ppp. I don’t hold that against you. What I have a problem withis your ignorance to understand that ppp leaders will always keep you hungry and naked so they can keep all your family as their slaves and pay you nothing because they know you have nowhere else to turn. I feel sorry for your situation but you bring it upon yourself and you are too lazy to do something about it. I guess you can just sit there and take the abuse.

      • @Joaher. You mean hide like BB and run from one country to another? I know your kind. You desreve your situation. Its a good thing that you don’t understand much.

  46. Entire muslim world wellcome mr.new prime minister janab Ashraf sahib,today brave pakistani peole one side fighting with enymies otherside they are fighting for deocracy from along time so these steps are part of democracy and make democracy strong.

  48. .IT IS PRESIDENT ZARDARI PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HELL FALLING ON THIS NATION VERGING COLLAPSE AND SLAVERY DUE TO HIS COALITION GANG OF CRIMINALS,CORRUPTS,TARGET KILLERS,BATHAKHORS[MQM,PPPZ,ANP,ML-C,MMA] WHO MUTUALLY SURVIVE BY MUTUAL PROTECTION ABETTED BY GEO,DUNYA,ARY,EXPRESS,AAJ,CNBC,SAMAA ,NEWSONE ETC BECAUSE THEY ARE MQM,PPPZ SLAVE CHANNELS.THEY SUPPORTED CONSTITUTION BREACHING,LHC JUDGEMENT VIOLATING PRESIDENT ON DAY TO DAY BASIS AND MUST BE PENALISED AND DISQULIFIED.scp,must now have no mercy on him

  51. another zardaris' corrupt tareen chela who will meet his agenda which has ruined Pakistan and poor.It is judiciary who should had stopped president partisan,political role which could saved country from his,his coalition partners,slave media men of geo,ary,express,cnbc,samaa,kamran khan,aaj,dunya etc who are mqm evil agents have brought country to this impasse.SCP should disqualify president for acting political,partisa voilating constitution to save Pakistan

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