Shehbaz Sharif has been chosen as the prime minister of Pakistan, while supporters of Imran Khan are claiming that the victory was “taken by force”.
Lawmakers in Pakistan’s National Assembly on Sunday elected Shehbaz Sharif as the country’s new prime minister for the second time as allies of
Former prime minister Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated.
Members of parliament raised their voices in protest, claiming that the recent election was rigged.
Khan is currently serving prison terms in multiple cases and has been barred from seeking or holding office. Sharif replaced him as prime minister after his ouster in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022.
Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker, announced that Sharif won the election with 201 votes, surpassing Omar Ayub from the Sunni Ittehad Council who received 92 votes. To claim a majority, the winner only requires 169 votes.
In 2022, his removal was mentioned, with the decision now resting on parliament and the courts to determine if those responsible for the assault on military bases should be granted amnesty.
Some lawmakers held up portraits of Khan as they stood in front of Sharif during his speech and yelled accusations of “vote thief” and “shame.” Sharif spoke out against their disruptive behavior, stating that it was creating chaos within parliament. He also urged them to provide their evidence of vote rigging to the appropriate authorities.
Sharif extended an invitation to the opposition, stating, “I am proposing reconciliation. Let us come together and collaborate for the progress of Pakistan.” However, he faced further dissent and disruptions.
The prime minister also mentioned improving the relationship with the United States. The two nations have had a tense relationship since Khan accused the U.S., Sharif, and the Pakistani military of plotting to prevent him from holding office after he was removed from power.
The leader also mentioned mending connections with the United States. there has been tension between the two nations since Khan accused the U.S., Sharif, and the Pakistani military of plotting to prevent him from being in power after his removal.
According to Sharif, the main difficulty he faces is the economic state of Pakistan, which has been dependent on loans from other countries to sustain its economy. His administration confronts several problems, such as managing increased attacks from militants, enhancing ties with Taliban-led Afghanistan, repairing deteriorating infrastructure, and addressing persistent power shortages. In addition, it must ensure political stability in the face of protests by Khan’s party, which claims that the election was rigged.
Following his defeat to Sharif, Ayub spoke to the parliament and praised Khan, whom he referred to as “my leader,” for his courageous response to the charges against him. He condemned the detention of numerous supporters of Khan who took to the streets in protest after his removal from office last year.
Ayub restated the claims of electoral fraud and urged an investigation into the recent election. He alleged that PTI votes were manipulated and accuses that “votes were taken” to prevent Khan’s party from coming into power.
According to him, Sharif may have the ability to govern the country, but he will not be able to gain the trust and support of the people because he attained his position through a dishonest election.
Khan recently penned a letter to the International Monetary Fund, requesting that any negotiations with Islamabad be contingent upon a review of the February election. Sharif has spoken out against Khan’s action during his speech, just days before the IMF is set to release a significant portion of a bailout loan to Pakistan.
In order to maintain its foreign exchange reserves and prevent default, Pakistan has been depending on financial aid from organizations such as the IMF and influential allies like China and Saudi Arabia. During his previous tenure as prime minister, Sharif faced significant challenges in securing a $3 billion bailout from the IMF.
The newly appointed prime minister stated his intention to secure a fresh IMF financial aid package upon the expiry of the current one in March.
He is expected to take an oath on Monday.
The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reported on Sunday that President Xi Jinping was among the first to extend congratulations to Sharif on his appointment as prime minister of Pakistan.
Source: cbsnews.com