Get the best experience by installing our app!

0:00

Pakistan's newly formed parliament on Sunday elected Shehbaz Sharif (72) as prime minister for a second term. He was elected to this post on Sunday (March 3) by the majority of members of the country's National Assembly.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan by getting 201 votes. On the other hand, PTI's prime ministerial candidate Omar Ayub Khan got 92 votes.

Then Ayaz called Sadiq Shehbaz to the seat of Parliament leader. The newly elected Prime Minister is expected to address Parliament soon.

The announcement came amid strong protests from the Imran Khan-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party. Alleging that Sharif came to power through election rigging, the lawmakers called for the former prime minister's release and chanted slogans. The February 8 election was marred by mobile internet shutdowns, arrests and violence, and unusually delayed results led to allegations of vote rigging.

Shehbaz Sharif is the younger brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who led the election campaign of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.

PML-N and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) agreed to form a coalition government even though the candidates supported by Imran Khan won the most seats. As a result, Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the Prime Minister as his brother withdrew.

During the last term, Sharif's administration successfully navigated a critical agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), despite facing obstacles along the way.  Measures required by the deal, which ended in April, have contributed to rising commodity prices in the country and increased pressure on middle-class families and the poor.

The new government should immediately begin negotiations with the IMF for the next deal to boost the country's economy. They have to deal with growing discontent over deepening poverty. Besides, the government has to deal with ongoing challenges from Imran Khan's supporters.

Join with us

Send

Subscribe Now

Keep updated with the latest news!