Imran to take oath on August 18, ex-Indian cricketers invited
Islamabad, Aug 10: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan will take over as Prime Minister on August 18 and Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Navjot Sidhu have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony, a party spokesperson said on Friday.
Javed Khan, Additional Information Secretary of PTI, said the members of Imran Khan's 1992 World Cup winning team have also been invited to attend the ceremony.
A similar announcement regarding inviting Indian cricketers and celebrities to the ceremony had earlier been made by PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry. However, it was later said that Khan had opted for an austere ceremony and decided against inviting foreign dignitaries and celebrities to the planned oath-taking.
President Mamnoon Hussain has summoned a session of the National Assembly for August 13 during which newly-elected members will take oath of their office. Elections for the speaker, deputy speaker and the Leader of the House will take place.
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said: "Imran will be elected Prime Minister of the country within the first round of vote in the parliament." He further claimed that his party has the support of 180 members in National Assembly.
Meanwhile, parties allied against the PTI, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, have decided to field their own candidates for Prime Minister and National Assembly speaker.
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Ahead of elections, Biden calls India, China, Russia and Japan 'xenophobic'
Washington (PTI): US President Joe Biden has called two of his QUAD partners – India and Japan – and two of his adversaries – Russia and China – "xenophobic" nations, asserting that none of these countries, unlike the United States, welcome immigrants.
"This election is about freedom, America and democracy. That's why I badly need you. You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden told his supporters at a fundraiser here on Wednesday evening.
"We look to — the reason — look, think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants,” Biden, the presumptive candidate of the Democratic Party, said.
"Immigrants are what makes us strong. Not a joke. That's not hyperbole, because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and want to contribute," the president said at the Democratic Party fundraiser.
India and Japan are members of QUAD - a four-member strategic security dialogue that also includes the US and Australia.
Biden hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a State Visit last year while Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the White House last month for an official visit.
Biden has been under attack from his opponents and the Republican Party for his immigration policies as hundreds and thousands of illegal immigrants enter the United States every month.
Immigration is a hot topic in the November 5 presidential election in which Biden will face former president Donald Trump, the presumptive candidate from the Republican Party.
Their nominations will be confirmed at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.
