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PTI’s Arif Alvi wins Pakistan presidential election (Lead)
Islamabad, Sep 4 (IANS) The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Arifur Rehman Alvi has been elected the 13th President of Pakistan, according to results provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday.
Alvi, who is now set to succeed the outgoing President Mamnoon Hussain, edged out Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-backed chief of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Fazlur Rehman and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan in the presidential race by garnering more votes than both his rivals combined, Dawn reported.
The ECP said that a total of 1,110 voters participated in the presidential polls held simultaneously at the Parliament House and the four provincial assembles on Tuesday. Of the total votes cast, 27 votes were declared invalid.
Alvi secured 353 votes, Rehman bagged 185, while Ahsan’s tally stood at 124.
The ECP has summoned the trio or their agents to the ECP Secretariat on Wednesday to witness the tabulation process, after which the official result will be announced and the winner notified.
Of the 430 votes cast in the National Assembly and Senate, PTI’s Alvi received 212 votes, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)’s Rehman bagged 131 and Ahsan garnered 81; six votes were rejected.
Of the 61 Balochistan Assembly members, 60 cast their votes, with former Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri the sole absentee. According to provisional results reported by DawnNewsTV, Alvi secured 45 votes, while 15 lawmakers voted for Rehman. Ahsan failed to receive any vote.
In the Sindh Assembly, Ahsan garnered 100 votes, Alvi bagged 56, whereas just a solitary vote was cast in favour of Rehman; one vote was wasted.
In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Alvi received 78 of the total 109 votes, while Rehman and Ahsan had 26 and five votes respectively to their names.
In the Punjab Assembly, Alvi secured 186 votes, whereas Rehman and Ahsan received 141 and six votes respectively; 18 votes were rejected.
The unusually high number of rejected votes in the Punjab Assembly could be attributed to last week’s murmurs that a group within the PML-N was unhappy over the party’s decision to nominate Rehman, and even termed him a “bad choice”.
“I am grateful to God that the PTI-nominated candidate has been successful in the presidential race today,” Alvi said in his victory speech. “I am also thankful to Imran Khan for nominating me for such a big responsibility.”
In his impending five-year term, Alvi said he hopes that the “fortunes of the poor” take a turn for the better, and that they get “food, shelter and clothing”.
Alvi said that “from today I am not just a president that was nominated by the PTI but I am the president of the entire nation and all parties”.
“Each party has an equal right on me,” he added.
A joint sitting of the Senate and the newly-elected national and provincial assemblies — together known as the electoral college of Pakistan — was called to elect the country’s 13th president.
The voting started at around 10 a.m. (Pakistan time) and ended at 4 p.m.
With an hour left in the 4 p.m. voting deadline, Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at the Parliament House and cast his vote.
The newly-elected president will take oath of office on September 9 after the expiry of the five-year term of incumbent President Hussain.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.