PM Modi congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on becoming Pakistan’s next Prime Minister

Shehbaz Sharif was nominated as the PM candidate after the PML-N’s poor showing in the February 8 elections prompted his elder brother Nawaz to drop his plans and build a coalition with other parties. He became Pakistan’s 24th Prime Minister after receiving 201 votes in the National Assembly.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on becoming Pakistan’s new Prime Minister. Shehbaz, the candidate of a six-party coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was sworn in as Pakistan’s 24th Prime Minister by President Arif Alvi on Monday.

Shehbaz took the oath in front of his elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and other PML-N members. Murad Ali Shah and Sarfaraz Bugti from the People’s Progressive Party were also present. The PML-N supremo assigned him the duty of negotiating with other like-minded parties to establish a coalition government. Shehbaz had the support of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Balochistan Awami Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Z), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and the National Party, in addition to the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Shehbaz takes over Pakistan at a time when the country is experiencing several challenges, most notably a cash-strapped economy and administrative issues. During his first term as Prime Minister, following the resignation of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan in 2022, inflation reached a high of 38%, with the rupee depreciating to a record low, owing mostly to structural reforms required by the IMF programme to sustain the country’s economy.

Shehbaz became PML-N chief after his elder brother was found guilty in 2017 of hiding assets related to the Panama Papers leaks, and was later convicted in other cases and removed from government. He is well-known in Pakistan as an intelligent politician and administrator. Shehbaz served as Chief Minister of Punjab three times and is recognized for completing critical infrastructure projects in Pakistan’s most populous province.

The road to become Pakistan’s Prime Minister

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the newly elected National Assembly Speaker, stated that the PML-N President was chosen Prime Minister on Sunday (March 3) with 201 votes. Omar Ayub Khan, the candidate for Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), received 92 votes. The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), backed by Khan, claims that the national election was rigged against them and has demanded an examination of the results. No single party secured a majority.

Candidates supported by Imran Khan received the most votes, however the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) agreed to create a coalition government with the MQM-P and other parties, allowing Shehbaz Sharif to be elected prime minister after his brother stood down. To win the poll, Shehbaz required 169 votes from the 336-member House.

As Shehbaz was sworn in as Prime Minister, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), led by Imran Khan, issued a loud protest. The MPs demanded Khan’s release and chanted slogans accusing Shehbaz of rigging the elections.

Pakistan’s main problems

Pakistan remains mired in an economic crisis, with inflation hovering above 30% and GDP growth dropping to approximately 2%. Shehbaz’s primary responsibility in this regard would be to maintain ties with the military, which has directly or indirectly ruled Pakistan since independence.

He is also charged with repeating his success in getting a short-term IMF bailout, with the present plan expiring next month and a new longer arrangement required to keep Pakistan on a narrow route to recovery. The Army generals perceive the younger Sharif to be more acceptable and cooperative than his elder brother, who has a strained relationship with the military.

Although the military has a huge influence on defense and crucial foreign policy choices, Sharif will need to balance relations with the United States and China, both of whom are vital allies. He also has to deal with deteriorating relations with three of Pakistan’s four neighbours: India, Iran, and Afghanistan.

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