Who will be next Pak PM? Here are 6 aspirants

Agencies
July 29, 2017

Islamabad, Jul 29: With Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif quitting his job after the Supreme Court disqualified him on Friday, questions are swirling over who will succeed him.

The court’s decision to dismiss the thrice-elected Prime Minister followed a petition by the Opposition, which had levelled corruption charges against him and his family members. Mr. Sharif will now face criminal charges.

Legal experts say that under constitutional rules, Mr. Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League will have to nominate a lawmaker to replace him. That nominee will then have to be elected by the National Assembly, where the party enjoys a comfortable majority.

Here are the prime minister probables:

Ahsan Iqbal, minister for planning and development, is an engineering graduate who has been a member of Mr. Sharif’s party since 1988. He studied business in the United States and is considered a close ally of Mr. Sharif. He was elected from Narowal, a city in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, where 60 per cent of the country’s 200 million people live.

Yaz Sadiq, Parliamentary Speaker, was elected from Lahore, capital of eastern Punjab province. He defeated a close associate of Mr. Sharif’s chief opponent, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who spearheaded the Opposition petition that triggered the Supreme Court’s ruling. Political analysts say Mr. Sharif could select Mr. Sadiq as his successor just to annoy Mr. Khan.

Hurram Dastgir Khan, commerce minister, is also an engineer. He was elected from the industrial city of Gujranwala, also in eastern Punjab province, a stronghold of the Sharifs.

Hahid Khaqan Abbasi, petroleum minister, is another close ally of Mr. Sharif. He faced charges along with Mr. Sharif following the 1999 bloodless coup by Gen. (retd.) Pervez Musharraf. Abbasi was elected from the mountain resort area of Murree, also in Punjab.

Hwaja Muhammed Asif, defence minister, has been a harsh critic of Pakistan’s powerful military and its propensity to involve itself in the country’s civilian affairs. He was elected from Sialkot, also in Punjab.

Shahbaz Sharif, who is the Chief Minister of Punjab province and Mr. Nawaz Sharif's brother,would first have to win a by-election for a seat in Parliament if his brother chooses him.

Comments

SYED
 - 
Saturday, 29 Jul 2017

Our MP Mr. Kateel is hiding behind MATCH BOX....Haahahaha LOL

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News Network
January 31,2026

files.jpg

A fresh cache of files related to the investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein contains documents that reference President Donald Trump and other high-profile figures including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and British billionaire Richard Branson.

Here are key details about mentions of the celebrities, none of whom have been accused of wrongdoing:

Donald Trump

The files included an FBI-compiled list of sexual assault allegations related to President Donald Trump -- many of them involving anonymous callers and unverified tips.

The allegations -- some secondhand -- were sent to the FBI's National Threat Operations Center which receives information by phone and electronically.

The document suggests that investigators followed up on a number of the tips. Some were deemed to lack credibility.

Trump has long denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

In a statement accompanying Friday's file dump, the Justice Department said: "Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false."

Bill Gates

In a draft email among the documents, Epstein alleged Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs.

In the mail, Epstein wrote that his relationship with Gates had ranged from "helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with russian girls, to facilitating his illicit trysts, with married women."

Richard Branson

Files show friendly relations between the two billionaires.

In an email sent to Epstein on Sept 11, 2013, Branson wrote "It was really nice seeing you yesterday. The boys in Watersports can't stop speaking about it! Any time you're in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!"

Elon Musk

The files contain numerous mail exchanges between Epstein and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

In November 2012, Epstein sent Musk an email asking "how many people will you be for the heli to island."

"Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?" Musk replied.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The disgraced former prince invited Epstein to visit him at Buckingham Palace in September 2010 while the financier was making a trip to London.

An email exchange shows Epstein contacting Andrew to ask: "What time would you like me... we will also need... private time."

Andrew replied: "we could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy."

Howard Lutnick

Emails show that Epstein and businessman Lutnick -- currently Trump's commerce secretary -- made plans in December 2012 to lunch on Epstein's Caribbean island.

"We are heading towards you from St. Thomas" Lutnick's wife wrote to Epstein's secretary, asking where they should anchor.

Steve Tisch

Several mails suggested Epstein connected Steve Tisch, 76, producer of the movies "Forrest Gump" and "Risky Business" and the co-owner of the New York Giants football team, with multiple women.

In one exchange with Tisch, Epstein describes a woman as "russian, and rarely tells the full truth, but fun."

Zohran Mamdani's Mother, Filmmaker Mira Nair 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's mother, Mira Nair, attended an afterparty at convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell's house for her 2009 film "Amelia", reveals a new set of Epstein files.

An email dated October 21, 2009, sent by publicist Peggy Siegal to Jeffrey Epstein, also surfaced in documents. The email, sent in the early hours, right after Siegal left the gathering, gives an insight into the afterparty. 

The party was also attended by former President Bill Clinton and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

"Just left Ghislaine's townhouse...after party for film. Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos were there...Jean Pigoni, director Mira Nair....etc," the email read.

The email described the reaction of guests to Nair's film as "tepid."

"Film received tepid reaction although women like it much more...Hillary Swank and Gen: at stupid party in Bloomingdales cheap sportwear department....very weird. Studio went for free party from store and windows for a month....Going to be in Wall Street 2 tomorrow ....more to come. xoxo Peg," the email read.

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