PTI to push for PM candidate unanimously supported by opposition

E-Paper | May 24, 2026

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in a parliamentary committee meeting on Saturday decided to push for a nominee unanimously supported by opposition parties for the vacant post of prime minister after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from public office after a landmark Supreme Court ruling in the Panama Papers case a day earlier.

During the meeting chaired by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the party's leaders discussed the Panamagate verdict and its repercussions on the political climate in Pakistan.

Following the sit-down, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he had conveyed the party's desire to field a unanimously agreed-upon candidate to Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah.

Qureshi announced that the party was fielding Yasmeen Rashid to contest by-polls for the NA-120 constituency left vacant after the deseating of Nawaz Sharif.

Imran Khan also met with Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid and invited him to attend Sunday's 'thanksgiving day' gathering in Islamabad. Rashid accepted the invitation.

The PTI's parliamentary party expressed satisfaction and gratitude over the Supreme Court verdict in the Panamagate case, with Khan terming the decision a "historic" one.

The PML-N decided, in its own parliamentary committee meeting, to nominate Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as the successor to his brother, Nawaz Sharif.

Additionally, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was till Friday the petroleum minister, will take over as interim prime minister.

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Panamagate

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M Zia Farooqui

Jul 29, 2017 07:11pm

There is no appeal no review in this case.

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jugnu

Jul 29, 2017 07:27pm

Nobody can beat Shahbaz in NA-120. PML-N Zindabad.

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Azam

Jul 29, 2017 07:27pm

All NA members will be allowed to vote to elect new PM. PTI is allowed to vote for member of their choice. But they need to follow established rules of democracy that majority wins. Being in minority they should drop the childish immature desire electing a PM who they like too !!!

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Jul 29, 2017 07:29pm

Good choice PTI, and I hope Dr Yasmeen Rashid wins NA-120 constituency and beat Shabaz Sharif. The only way to get rid of corrupt mafia is defeating them by voting against them. It won't be easy, but can be done if public realize and use their votes wisely for a change and having corruption free Pakistan.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jul 29, 2017 07:45pm

Unity is always a great strength. Therefore it's a viable and result-oriented strategy to go for a joint and united candidate by all opposition parties having presence in the National Assembly and the Senate for the position of the new Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as suggested by the PTI leadership.

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Bear

Jul 29, 2017 07:47pm

Right! And what will come of it? PPP doesn't have a tinker's damn in that constituency; Sheikh Rasheed, one or two votes maybe. That leaves only the Jamaat-e-Islami and Tahir Ul Qadri with any non-negligible votebank, and that too won't rise above 5000-10000 put together. Looking at the margin between Yasmeen & Nawaz in the last election, it won't be anywhere near a match. Good luck with your half-wit efforts to bury the Sharif brothers for good!

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jugnu

Jul 29, 2017 07:54pm

Mr. Sharif has not received salary, and ask any accountant, most of the times, if salary is not received there are two aspects. 1. The writer mentioned cash accounting -Nawaz Sharif did not commit any crime 2. World over there is a Time-Bar (Limitation) on civil cases. If one has not been paid his salary and he did not pursue it and did not claim, started a legal proceedings within the time permitted by law, he loses all rights to claim and receive the amount. Nawaz is on solid footing and 5 judges are clearly a pawn in the hands of the Establishment At least if they are not pawns, they erred 100%

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Lol

Jul 29, 2017 08:01pm

Lol they still won't win.

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Gr8

Jul 29, 2017 08:19pm

For PTI it was all about power !!!

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Emmay

Jul 29, 2017 08:22pm

Will SMQ be the nominee - the man who is in search of any position come what may. Or it will be Sheikh Rashid against whom many cases are pending in courts. Or it will be Tareen the man with offshore companies. Or Dasti, the real sadiq and amin against whom there are 27 pending cases and above all he was convincted of fake degree. None of these stand a chance against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

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Irfan-Sydney

Jul 29, 2017 08:35pm

Imran khan won national assembly seats from

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NACParis

Jul 29, 2017 08:39pm

Our prayers are with PTI

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Irfan-Sydney

Jul 29, 2017 08:41pm

There are going to be two elections in a matter of weeks. First one in Lahore for the seat vacated by Nawaz Sharif after disqualification and second one in Mianwali for the seat of Imran Khan ( after disqualification).

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Concerned

Jul 29, 2017 08:51pm

Ik is no more then a show stopper.

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kasamali

Jul 29, 2017 08:57pm

NS is very lucky. If we look carefully at his history since the days of Zia, he always bounced back with more force. Go to Wikipedia and count how many times he survived out of small or big obstacles, This time too, I feel, he will bounce back. The clause of "Sadiq and Amin" will eventually go within a year through constitutional amendment. In March 2018, PMLN have big majority in the senate and, if in 2018 election in July, PMLN gets more than simple majority then it is possible to pass such amendment and made forcible antedate. .

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Alex Iqbal

Jul 29, 2017 09:07pm

@kasamali Keep on dreaming.

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izharulhaqadeeb

Jul 29, 2017 09:12pm

If Dr Yasmeen Rashid is pitted against SS in by election the path to success for SS will be difficult.

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charlie

Jul 29, 2017 09:13pm

@kasamali Keep dreaming. There are multiple NAB cases in which he will be convicted along with the new proposed PM SS. A man so tainted and with such a shady past won't be allowed to contest elections in Pakistan ever again.

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Falcon1

Jul 29, 2017 09:40pm

Anyone other than from Sharif family should be acceptable - provided he/she is not under investigation, has no prior checkered record and has the confidence and support of majority in the parliament. That's as democratic as you can get.

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M.Saeed

Jul 29, 2017 09:59pm

@charlie: Are human? Are you a Pakistani? Do you know how many NAB cases are there against AAZ? Do you know what happened with mammoth dossier of corrupt practices pending with NAB about Dr. Asim? Do you know what is NRO and how many hyper-corrupt had been washed clean by it?

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kasamali

Jul 29, 2017 10:08pm

@charlie : Let us see, but we have to wait for some time say a year.

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Jouhar

Jul 29, 2017 10:12pm

IK just concentrate KP that NS let you to deliver something

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Jul 29, 2017 10:13pm

@jugnu - for your information, Nawaz Sharif disqualified because of Panama leaks, corrupt practices, not providing details of his assets, wealth and how and when his sons purchased the UK's flats. These are the facts and failing to provide evidence led to his shameful disqualification from politics for life.

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Rohail

Jul 29, 2017 10:15pm

@jugnu Well you have been saying this for NS panama case as well.

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Mustafa R.

Jul 29, 2017 10:16pm

@jugnu; 'Nobody can beat Shahbaz in NA' Probably true, but Shahbaz would be beaten in NAB-420.

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Honest Truth

Jul 29, 2017 10:20pm

@NACParis -- Continue praying for PTI -- will be doing it for years, 'cuz CONSPIRATORS are only good at creating ANARCHY, will NEVER WIN the election!

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Mustafa R.

Jul 29, 2017 10:21pm

Starting ACT II --- The Hudabiya Papers.

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Jouhar

Jul 29, 2017 10:21pm

@Irfan-Sydney my words,. great!

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Nizar Kassam

Jul 29, 2017 10:25pm

Its not a party, it's a family business.... The PML-N decided, in its own parliamentary committee meeting, to nominate Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as the successor to his brother, Nawaz Sharif.

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Nazarul UL islam

Jul 29, 2017 10:30pm

Time for PMLN forward block to come forward

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Jul 29, 2017 10:41pm

@jugnu - how do you know, Nawaz Sharif didn't receive any salary, where is the proof and why he did not produce evidence. For your information, NS is disqualified for hiding his assets, wealth and corrupt practices - this is a fact as mentioned in the SC's ruling, and these are the main causes of NS's shameful downfall.

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Syed Anjum Ali

Jul 29, 2017 11:00pm

@M Zia Farooqui _ there is no provision for appeal in this instance but a verdict is always open to review, no one can deny this basic human right to anyone.

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khawaja javaid USA

Jul 29, 2017 11:10pm

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is a black mark. He is involved in destroying Pakistan International Airlines. He has closed Pakistan Airlines reservation system "REPAK" and done the contract with GDS "SABRE" for "unknown: reasons. "REPAK" was the gold mine. He is running "Air Blue" and sold the Pakistan Airlines Take off and landing slots aroud the world.

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Mustafa R.

Jul 29, 2017 11:17pm

Unanimously? Is MQM included?

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Sab se pehle pakistan

Jul 29, 2017 11:23pm

Corruption Mafia's days are over. The nation has not forgotten Lahore Model Town Massacre and Hudaibiya Paper Mill case.

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Javed

Jul 29, 2017 11:44pm

In a Parliamentary Democracy the Majority Party in the House elects an MNA from within it's ranks to lead as Prime Minister. I hope the PTI understands this basic principle.

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haroon

Jul 30, 2017 01:18am

they are dreaming. This is causing disturbances to Pakistan nothing else. Nothing else to be gained. International press has received this court verdict very negatively for Pakistan. I would say what have we gained?

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Khany

Jul 30, 2017 01:58am

PMLN is more of a family party or we should say a family buissness.

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javed

Jul 30, 2017 02:10am

@jugnu what about fontgate

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Javed khan

Jul 30, 2017 02:18am

well said sir!

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Javed khan

Jul 30, 2017 02:19am

Well said!

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Sane Voices

Jul 30, 2017 02:21am

Does that mean IK thinks PPP leaders are Sadiq and Amin, and should have an allied PM candidate? So we get Zardari after we get rid of Nawaz?

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Ifthkar Ali

Jul 30, 2017 03:33am

It is very easy to talk. About nawab shariff you. Are having all. The rejects. From ppp I don't thing pti will ever. Will win election what about ppp zaid will courts look at his. Money what about Swiss. Bank he is richest er man in pakistan and about his tax returns and bilayer zadri is a get a life you are wast. Of time

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Riaz

Jul 30, 2017 05:22am

Why don't IK come and fight the election and we will know how popular he is

Recommend 0

Jul 30, 2017 05:45am

@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani PTI should have waited for 2018 Elections to get rid of NS by public mandate and note through SC for Iqama verdict. I think IK talks of Peoples power but has no faith on Pakistani Awaam because he is afraid people will elect NS again.

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IBM

Jul 30, 2017 06:10am

Shahbaz is better choice as new Pakisaitni PM than any party that has Mahmood Qureshi as a member!

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IBM

Jul 30, 2017 06:11am

I vote for Shahbaz any day .

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Truth

Jul 30, 2017 06:30am

We tolerated zardari for 5 yrs & he did nothing, this guy has done a whole lot more (Nawaz) but we are happy he is leaving. Now the hope is on Imran who hasn't achieved anything for 4 yrs but hollow words. What a strange nation

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gullu Badsha

Jul 30, 2017 07:48am

@Azam, what happens when a little more than half the PML(-) MNAs vote for the childish desire of the PTI candidate.

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Khan, USA

Jul 30, 2017 08:10am

Go Nawaz Go ! Finally a reality ! Next should be Zardari and Imran Khan !

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Khan, USA

Jul 30, 2017 08:11am

@jugnu Pakistan Zindabad !

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Saif Zulfiqar

Jul 30, 2017 02:55pm

Best choice for opposition is Musharaff or Raheel Shariff.

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M.Saeed

Jul 30, 2017 03:45pm

@charlie: Wait till Parliament removes the Articles 62 & 63 from Constitution and save their own skins. That is a must for surviving in Politics because, not a single person, except Sirajul Haque (as one of the SC judges remarked) would qualify as clean under the existing constitutional provisions.

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