Daily Times

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) celebrated the victory of its chairman Imran Khan in Lahore as he became the 22nd prime minister of the country by securing 176 votes as leader of the house in the National Assembly on Friday against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PMLN) Shehbaz Sharif who could manage to get only 96 votes.

Several cake-cutting ceremonies were held in Lahore on Friday following the victory of PTI Chief Imran Khan as PM where PTI workers chanted slogans in favor of Khan, also lauding his 22 years’ long political struggle. Arrangements were made at PTI chairman’s secretariat in Lahore where huge TV screens were arranged for live telecast of NA proceedings.

PTI Member of Provincial Assembly Nazir Chauhan also arranged celebrations in his constituency where PTI workers danced to drum beats soon after the announcement was made in NA that Khan had become PM. Sweets were also distributed among the people on the occasion following a cake-cutting ceremony.

“I want to pay tribute to 22-years long political struggle of my leader as it is a great day in the history of Pakistan. Khan has defeated the corrupt mafia of the country today,” he said. He further added that Khan will definitely fulfill all the promises made to the nation and a New Pakistan is created today.

Moreover, PTI celebrated Khan’s victory through fireworks at Walton Road falling in NA-131 that is one of the five constituencies from where he himself won on July 25 elections by defeating PML-N’s stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique.

Another celebration was arranged at PTI’s Azad Jammu & Kashmir secretariat in Lahore where newly elected MPA and former leader of the opposition in Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed distributed sweets among PTI workers while a cake-cutting ceremony was also held on the occasion. Ishtiaq Chaudhry, a PTI worker, said on the occasion that they all waited for over two decades for this day to come.

“In 1997, he didn’t win even his own seat but today he has become the PM while making history,” Ishtiaq Chaudhry said, who is associated with the PTI since its early days.

Separately, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi called on the newly elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at the latter’s residence in Lahore while felicitating him over becoming speaker of the largest house of the country twice.

They also discussed the current political situation of the province on the occasion. Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President and former PM Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Provincial Caretaker Minister Zia Haider Rizvi were also present in the meeting.

Published in Daily Times, August 18^th 2018.