Pakistan’s elite: who would spend Eid where?
It seems the leaders would also run mobilisation campaigns in their hometown
PHOTO: PPI/FILE
ISLAMABAD :
Unlike previous years when Islamabad used to stay central for political activity, the federal capital wears more of a ‘deserted look’ this Eid as most political heavyweights have already left for their hometowns or respective hometowns and constituencies.
Following the completion of the government’s term on May 31, most of the electable have gone to their native areas in line with their voters’ mobilisation campaigns for general elections scheduled on July 25. These mainly include former federal ministers, state ministers, advisers, special assistants to the prime minister, and even former MNAs who were rarely seen in their home constituencies while they were in office.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz bigwig Shahid Khaqan Abbasi usually celebrates Eid at his home in the posh Sector F-7 of Islamabad and visits his native village of Deval in Murree the next day.
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Sources, however, said that this time Abbasi would visit Murree first from where he is contesting the general elections on National Assembly’s seat NA-57. The former PM is also contesting the polls from NA-53 Islamabad against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.
Khan is among the few politicians who celebrate the festival in the federal capital, at his mansion in Banigala. Normally Khan leaves for London to be with his two sons shortly after spending Eid in the capital. This would be his first Eid with his new wife, whom he married earlier this year.
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif usually spends Eid either in Saudi Arabia or the United Kingdom. This year, he is in London, at the side of his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz. Sharif left for the metropolitan city on Thursday along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz and other family members amid reports that Kulsoom's health was deteriorating. Sharif family members are expected to return next week.
On his last Eidul Fitr as premier, he cut short his Eid trip to London and came back home in the wake of a deadly tragedy involving an oil tanker truck fire which more than 150 people were burnt alive in Ahmadpur East.
Sharif would usually spend the last few days of Ramazan with his family members in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and stay there till Eid. This year, on account of the pending trial against him in an accountability court, he had to appear before the court and was not allowed physical exemption from hearing.
In addition, Caretaker PM Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk usually celebrates Eid in his native town of Swat. He is expected to visit hometown this year as well, officials from the government said. Mulk pays a visit to the graves of his parents at his ancestral graveyard in Swat on every trip.
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Moreover, President Mamnoon Hussain usually celebrates Eid in Islamabad and visits his hometown of Karachi after Eid.
While the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar is expected to rejoice the occasion in his hometown of Lahore, and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is likely to visit Quetta.
Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza spends Eid at his residence located in Sector D-12 of Islamabad and visits his hometown of Abbottabad soon after.
Apart from the PTI chief, other prominent politicians who would be spending this Eid in Islamabad include PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, and ex-MNAs Asad Umar, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Anjum Aqeel Khan, Sheikh Rasheed and a few others. Rashid owns the famous Lal Haveli in Rawalpindi and also has a house in Islamabad. He splits his time between the twin cities on Eid.
Unlike previous years when Islamabad used to stay central for political activity, the federal capital wears more of a ‘deserted look’ this Eid as most political heavyweights have already left for their hometowns or respective hometowns and constituencies.
Following the completion of the government’s term on May 31, most of the electable have gone to their native areas in line with their voters’ mobilisation campaigns for general elections scheduled on July 25. These mainly include former federal ministers, state ministers, advisers, special assistants to the prime minister, and even former MNAs who were rarely seen in their home constituencies while they were in office.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz bigwig Shahid Khaqan Abbasi usually celebrates Eid at his home in the posh Sector F-7 of Islamabad and visits his native village of Deval in Murree the next day.
PTI protest ‘welcomes’ Imran outside Bani Gala residence upon arrival from Umrah
Sources, however, said that this time Abbasi would visit Murree first from where he is contesting the general elections on National Assembly’s seat NA-57. The former PM is also contesting the polls from NA-53 Islamabad against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.
Khan is among the few politicians who celebrate the festival in the federal capital, at his mansion in Banigala. Normally Khan leaves for London to be with his two sons shortly after spending Eid in the capital. This would be his first Eid with his new wife, whom he married earlier this year.
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif usually spends Eid either in Saudi Arabia or the United Kingdom. This year, he is in London, at the side of his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz. Sharif left for the metropolitan city on Thursday along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz and other family members amid reports that Kulsoom's health was deteriorating. Sharif family members are expected to return next week.
On his last Eidul Fitr as premier, he cut short his Eid trip to London and came back home in the wake of a deadly tragedy involving an oil tanker truck fire which more than 150 people were burnt alive in Ahmadpur East.
Sharif would usually spend the last few days of Ramazan with his family members in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and stay there till Eid. This year, on account of the pending trial against him in an accountability court, he had to appear before the court and was not allowed physical exemption from hearing.
In addition, Caretaker PM Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk usually celebrates Eid in his native town of Swat. He is expected to visit hometown this year as well, officials from the government said. Mulk pays a visit to the graves of his parents at his ancestral graveyard in Swat on every trip.
Maryam requests for prayers after Kulsoom suffers cardiac arrest
Moreover, President Mamnoon Hussain usually celebrates Eid in Islamabad and visits his hometown of Karachi after Eid.
While the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar is expected to rejoice the occasion in his hometown of Lahore, and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is likely to visit Quetta.
Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza spends Eid at his residence located in Sector D-12 of Islamabad and visits his hometown of Abbottabad soon after.
Apart from the PTI chief, other prominent politicians who would be spending this Eid in Islamabad include PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, and ex-MNAs Asad Umar, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Anjum Aqeel Khan, Sheikh Rasheed and a few others. Rashid owns the famous Lal Haveli in Rawalpindi and also has a house in Islamabad. He splits his time between the twin cities on Eid.