ISLAMABAD (AP) — Lawmakers in Pakistan’s National Assembly elected Shehbaz Sharif as the country’s new prime minister for the second time on Sunday.
Allies of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan in parliament protested against his appointment, alleging rigging in last month’s election.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced that Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who received 92 votes. Sharif only needed 169 votes to secure a majority.
After days of negotiations, Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party and his supporters formed an alliance following the Feb. 8 election, whose results were delayed due to a nationwide mobile phone outage aimed at preventing militant attacks on candidates and security forces.
However, Khan’s party criticized the delay, claiming the election was rigged to prevent them from winning. The Election Commission denies these allegations.
In his acceptance speech on Sunday, Sharif addressed the political victimization his party had faced in the past and accused Khan of attacking military installations after his removal in 2022.
Sharif’s government faces challenges such as responding to militant attacks, improving the economy, enhancing relations with Afghanistan, fixing infrastructure, resolving power outages, and maintaining political stability amid protests from Khan’s party.
Khan, currently serving prison terms and barred from holding office, wrote to the IMF requesting an audit of the February election before releasing a bailout installment to Pakistan.
Pakistan has relied on bailouts from the IMF, China, and Saudi Arabia to prevent default, with Sharif planning to seek a new IMF bailout after the current one expires in March.
The Associated Press
