PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) has emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats in July 25 elections. Its number increased to 125 after nine independent members joined it and final tally reached 158 after it was allotted 28 out of 60 seats reserved for women and five out of 10 seats reserved for minorities.
After, Imran Khan swore in as the Prime Minister and promised to look into issues of corruption and money laundering in the nation he also officially nominated his cabinet minister who would assist him further his work and his promises. Fawad Chaudhary, who is the official spokesperson of PTI announced that out of the 20 names which have been announced, 15 will be acting as cabinet minister while the 5 will perform their roles as an ‘advisor’ to the premiere.
The five advisors who have the status of ministers include known faces like former banker Ishrat Hussain, businessman Abdul Razzak Dawood and Babar Awan. Three women including Shireen Mazari, Zubaida Jalal and Fehmida Mirza are also part of the cabinet.
The primary focus of the party in power is to deal with issues of corruption and money laundering. In his first speech in the Pakistani Parliament Khan swore that “ I promise to my God that everyone who looted this country will be made accountable,”
According to the New York Times, “ Pakistan’s current account deficit stands at $18 billion, while its foreign-currency reserves are just $10.1 billion, enough to cover two months of imports.”
The election of Imran Khan was also not free of controversy. There have been several allegations that the elections were rigged and that the previous prime-minister Nawaz Shariff’s downfall was targeted by the military. Countering such claims, Khan spoke:
“No dictator has taken care of me. I am standing here in this Parliament on my own feet,”