Cricketer Imran Khan set to win Paki elections 2018

We will improve tax culture. People will pay taxes because they will see that their taxes are being spent on them. We will help farmers, the business community and help the youth to find jobs and develop their skills. Our money will be spent on human development. ~ this politician spoke !!

I remember that Pongal Test in 1980 at Chepauk when Pak toured India.  The star Batsman Zaheer Abbas failed miserably, getting out to mild Roger Binny;  some Pakis claimed that to be result of some black magic ! .. .. at Chepauk Sandip Patil debuted and we so eagerly looked forward to his making runs – glaring at him in the net practice before the commencement of the Test.  Sunil Gavaskar was to make 166 and Kapil bowled so well – a 7 wicket haul in the 2^nd  essay ensured a comfortable 10 wicket victory for India.  Imran Khan ran in long and hard and bowled fast – took 5 wickets too – those days there were rest days the 4^th  day -  18^th  Jan was a rest day.  Years later, in Feb 1987, Imran captained Pakis and scored a ton, which was overshadowed by a brilliant 123 laced with 18 fours and 2 sixers by local lad Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

Imran has been in Paki politics – the  former Pakistani cricketer  has claimed victory in his country’s parliamentary elections, promising a new Pakistan following a vote that was marred by allegations of fraud and militant violence. Khan, who aspires to be the country’s next prime minister, said in a televised address to the nation that “thanks to God, we won and we were successful”.  Pakistan’s election commission has not yet released official final results, but Khan has maintained a commanding lead according to projections by many television stations. It is still unclear, however, if his Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) will win a simple majority or have to form a coalition government.  For being in politics in Pak, speaking about Kashmir is the norm and Khan in a victory speech,  said: 'The leaders of Pakistan and India should sit down at a table and resolve the Kashmir issue.'

General elections were held in Pakistan on 25 July 2018 to elect the members of the 15^th  National Assembly and to the four Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan. Most of the opinion polls suggested an overall Pakistan Muslim League (N) lead with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf being the close second. There have been allegations of pre-poll rigging being conducted by the judiciary, the military and the intelligence agencies to sway the election results in favour of the PTI and against the PML (N).

My sons' father is Pakistan's next PM': Imran’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith congratulated ex-husband Imran Khan on his 'tenacity' as he claimed election victory - but she warned that  he must remember 'why he entered politics in the first place'.  Khan, who has also claimed victory in the election, was married to the British journalist - who is Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith's sister - from 1995 to 2004. They have two sons. 

According to Dawn, his speech went on to 'clarify' why he entered politics. He explained: 'I wanted Pakistan to become the country that my leader Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had dreamed of. 'Today our state is in shambles. All our policies aim to help the less fortunate prosper.' He also bemoaned low pay for farmers, uneducated children, women dying in childbirth and a lack of clean water. 'A country is not recognised by the lifestyle of the rich, but by the lifestyle of the poor,' he added. 'No country that has an island of rich people and a sea of poor people can prosper.'    

  

Results were still being tallied Thursday, hours after Khan's supporters took to the streets to celebrate victory in an election opponents have said the powerful military rigged in his favour. On foreign policy, he said: 'No other country needs peace like we do. 'We will strengthen our relations with China, they have given us a chance by investing in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and we also want to learn how to improve people's lives, drag them out of poverty.  He said he wanted to see peace in Pakistan's neighbour, Afghanistan, because 'peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan'.   

Relations with the US, he explained, should be mutually beneficial rather than one-sided, which he claims they now are. He also spoke of better relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia. On Kashmir - and the conflict with India over which state should control it - Khan said he wanted to improve relations with Pakistan's gigantic neighbour. 'Saudi Arabia has stood by us in our toughest times. We would like to be a reconciliatory state and help them resolve their inner tensions.

Imran Khan's second ex wife has slated his 'stolen' mandate and warned Pakistan' can't walk away' from him like she did after he declared victory in elections. Journalist and former BBC weather girl Reham Khan married the cricket legend in  January 2015 only for their disastrous union to last just ten months. As the 65-year-old sports star turned politician declared victory for his party today, mother-of-three Reham penned a scathing assessment of her former husband - telling Pakistan citizens they are 'now stuck with him'. Her reaction was in stark contrast to his first wife, British film producer Jemima Goldsmith, who congratulated him in a tweet saying: '22 years later, after humiliations, hurdles and sacrifices, my sons' father is Pakistan's next PM.'

BBC's Newsnight sparked fury last night after mistakenly showing footage of the wrong cricketer during a package about Pakistan bowler-turned-politician Imran Khan. The flagship current affairs programme sparked outrage after broadcasting a clip of his fellow bowler and teammate Wasim Akram, despite the pair not looking alike. Opening with a piece about Pakistan's potential new prime minister, footage of left-arm fast bowler Akram appeared instead of all-rounder Khan in his heyday. Newsnight quickly apologised for 'a bit of an error' but bosses were slammed on social media by angry viewers.

Interesting !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

26^th July 2018.