Also in news: Nawaz Sharif decides to challenge court order that deposed him and India records massive win at Galle.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who held the portfolio of Petroleum and Natural Resources, has been made the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced on Saturday. He will hold the post for 45 days.

The ousted Prime Minister’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said the issue of FZE, the Dubai-based company, of which Mr. Sharif was the chairman, was not part of the petition and hence, the court should to review its judgement.

While 14 are from the JD(U), the NDA’s share was 13 — 12 from the BJP and one from the Lok Janshakti Party.

Moments after BJP national president Amit Shah landed in Lucknow for a three-day organisational visit, his opponents in Uttar Pradesh received a jolt — at least three Opposition MLCs resigned, with two of them lavishing praise on the BJP.

“The political developments in Goa, Manipur, Bihar and now in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are proof enough that the Modi government has put democracy at risk,” the BSP supreme has said.

The Congress vice-president has claimed that the prevailing unrest in parts of the country under NDA rule was benefiting the RSS, China and Pakistan.

Expressing shock and surprise over the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister’s remarks that there would be no one to hold (the national flag if Article 35-A is tinkered), the BJP has asserted that the Article, which grants special status to the State is “not a sacred cow that cannot be touched”.

Less than two months after appointing an administrator to manage the affairs of Sahara India Life Insurance Company Limited (SILICL) and acting on his report, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has directed ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to take over the Sahara company with effect from July 31.

A vastly superior India has outclassed an injury-ravaged and out-of-sorts Sri Lanka by 304 runs in the opening Test to bury the ghosts of a humiliating loss at the same venue, exactly two years ago. India lead the three-match series 1-0. | Scorecard

July 29, 2017 marks 30 years of signing of the historic Accord, which sought to end the civil war in the island nation, by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R. Jayawardena.