After prolonged political turmoil, Shahbaz Sharif was finally elected as Pakistan’s next prime minister. The PML-N chief will lead the country for the second time with the support of the Pakistan Army.
Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, announced Shahbaz Sharif as the next prime minister of Pakistan. He received a total of 201 votes to become the 24th PM of Pakistan.
The main opposition leader and Imran Khan-backed PTI candidate, Omer Ayub Khan, got 92 votes. The PTI faced significant defeat in the general elections because their party leader was incarcerated. Imran’s party has criticized the elections, accusing them of fraudulent voting and counting.
It’s commonly understood that the military holds significant influence in Pakistan’s elections, often determining the Prime Minister. When Imran Khan won the general elections previously, he had the support of the Army. However, it’s noteworthy that the Army played a role in Imran Khan’s downfall.
This time, the Army has chosen Shahbaz Sharif as its puppet, and it will be interesting to see how long the Army will trust Shahbaz.
Besides receiving covert support from the Army, Shahbaz also received assistance from his brother and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. PML-N’s alliance with several major parties in the country also played a significant role in Nawaz’s victory.
Total seats and winners
In the Pakistan general elections, independent candidates supported by Imran Khan’s PTI party secured victory in 93 National Assembly seats. Shahbaz’s PML-N emerged as the leading party with 75 seats, while the PPP attained the third position with 54 seats. Additionally, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan secured 17 seats.
Shahbaz, with the support of the alliance parties, got 201 votes to become 24 Prime Minister of Pakistan. Every party requires 133 out of 265 contested seats in the 266-member assembly.
Shahbaz’s statement
Shahbaz Sharif thanked all his allies for trusting him and choosing the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the second time. He also quoted his brother, Nawaz Sharif, for his successful tenure as Pakistan’s PM. Shahbaz declared his brother the true builder of Pakistan.
PTI’s allegations
During Shahbaz’s victory speech, PTI leaders were heard chanting slogans of “thief” from the opposition benches. They alleged that many candidates from PML-N and PPP were declared winners despite other candidates receiving the majority of votes.
Also read: Ken Block Career, Net Worth, Relationship and More
