LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was on cloud nine on Friday when it celebrated the election of Imran Khan as the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan at the party secretariat.

The local leaders distributed sweets and promised that the PTI would live up to the expectations of the voters and its first 100 days would be much better than those of other parties. The PTI would usher in a new era of prosperity and take Pakistan to new heights of prosperity, they said.

Aleem Khan, president of Central Punjab, in his message said Imran Khan had been vindicated and Pakistan would leapfrog in development under his leadership. “Whatever Imran Khan decides on issues afflicting the country, the entire party would stand behind him. The political opponents of Khan created every conceivable hurdle in way but he has crossed them all and now has the highest office of the country to serve Pakistan.” JI: Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq congratulated PTI chairman Imran Khan on his election as prime minister.

In a statement here, he said it was a matter of satisfaction that the democratic process had been completed with the election of the premier. The PTI, he said, should now concentrate on its election manifesto and fulfill its promises it made to the people.

He said the JI did not believe in opposition for the sake of opposition and it would appreciate every action of the government taken in the public interest. He expressed the hope that the new government would ensure the supremacy of the constitution and Pakistan’s ideology and also strengthen and stabilise the national institutions.

PAT: In his congratulatory message to Imran Khan, PAT chief Tahirul Qadri thanked God that the era of corruption was over. “The hapless people have attached high expectations with the PTI’s rule and one hopes all those would be met,” he said and condemned the opposition’s hooliganism in the National Assembly.

“Imran Khan has committed ruthless accountability and is determined to bring the looted money back,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2018