Shehbaz Sharif Elected Pakistan’s 24th Prime Minister

Press Trust of Kashmir

Shehbaz Sharif, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has been elected as the country’s 24th prime minister. Sharif secured a decisive victory in the National Assembly, clinching 201 votes, while his opponent, Omar Ayub Khan of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), received 92 votes.

The session, presided over by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, commenced with the swearing-in of PML-N’s Jam Kamal. However, it was not without disruption as SIC lawmakers protested vocally, displaying images of the PTI founder.

Sharif’s candidacy received backing from several political factions, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for March 4 at 3 pm in the President’s House, where President Dr. Arif Alvi will administer the oath.

Nomination papers for Shehbaz Sharif were presented by Ishaq Dar, Hanif Abbasi, and Khursheed Shah. Additionally, seven MNAs acted as proposers, and seven others as seconders for Sharif’s nomination papers.

In contrast, Omar Ayub Khan’s nomination was supported by MNAs Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser, Riaz Khan Fatyana, Umair Khan Niazi, and seconded by MNAs Mohammad Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, Ali Khan Jadoon, Mujahid Ali, and Malik Mohammad Amir Dogar.

The Pakistan People’s Party and PML-N also secured the election of their preferred candidates for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly.

With the prime minister’s election settled, attention now turns to the forthcoming election for the head of state on March 9, signaling the conclusion of PTI-backed President Arif Alvi’s tenure.