Islamabad, April 11
Shehbaz Sharif was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday, bringing to an end the political uncertainty that had gripped the country since a no-confidence motion was introduced against his predecessor Imran Khan on March 8.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered oath of office to 70-year-old Shehbaz in President Arif Alvi's absence, who went on 'sick' leave ahead of the PML-N leader's inauguration.
Earlier, Sharif was elected unopposed as the Prime Minister by Parliament after rival candidate Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party will boycott the voting and staged a walkout.
Shehbaz Sharif said he wants good relations with India, but it can't be achieved without resolution of Kashmir issue.
The newly-elected Prime Minister termed ousted premier Imran Khan’s ‘foreign conspiracy’ claims as “drama”, saying he will resign and go home if it is proved.
Addressing Parliament after his election as the country’s 23rd Prime Minister, Shehbaz said that good has prevailed over evil.
“Pakistan’s National Security Committee would be briefed on a controversial letter related to the so-called foreign conspiracy,” he said, terming Khan’s ‘foreign conspiracy’ claims as “drama”.
Khan had alleged that the US was involved in a conspiracy to topple his government.
“I will resign and go home if conspiracy is proved in letter controversy,” Shehbaz said.
Shehbaz, 70, was elected unopposed as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan by Parliament after rival candidate Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party will boycott the voting and staged a walkout.
Shehbaz, the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, received 174 votes — two more than the simple majority of 172.
He has served as chief minister of the country’s most populous and politically crucial Punjab province thrice.
Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chair Asif Ali Zardari had proposed Shehbaz’s name for prime minister’s position in a joint opposition’s meeting to replace Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion.
The process of electing the new leader of the House began on Sunday after prime minister Imran Khan was removed from office through the no-confidence vote, becoming the first premier in the country’s history to be sent home after losing the trust of the House.
Pakistan has struggled with political instability since its formation in 1947 with multiple regime changes and military coups. No prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term. PTI
I will resign and go home if conspiracy is proved in letter controversy, Shehbaz says in Parliament after his election as Pakistan PM.
In an apparent slip of tongue, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday pronounced the name of deposed premier Nawaz Sharif instead of Shehbaz Sharif during the crucial session to elect Imran Khan’s successor and apologised for his mistake. Read story
A Pakistani court on Monday deferred until April 27 the indictment of joint Opposition's prime ministerial candidate Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz in a high-profile money laundering case and also extended their pre-arrest bail till the same day, allowing the PML-N president to become the new prime minister.
All lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will resign from the National Assembly ahead of the voting to elect a new prime minister, said Imran Khan's close aide Fawad Chaudhry.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah of the Islamabad High Court delivered a reserved verdict dismissing a petition to register a treason case against former prime minister Imran Khan and various ministers, saying it was inadmissible.
The names of six key aides of ousted prime minister Imran Khan have been put on a stop list by Pakistan's top investigation agency to prevent them from leaving the country, according to a media report on Monday. Being on the list bars them from travelling abroad without permission.
Imran Khan has thanked his supporters for their participation in rallies held across Pakistan and abroad to protest against his ouster as prime minister and the formation of a "US-backed regime" in Islamabad.
Protest rallies were held in different Pakistani cities after 9 pm on Sunday and continued for several hours on the call of Khan.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is likely to be appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said decisions regarding the ministership will be taken by his party.
A large number of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters held a protest rally in Lahore's Liberty Chowk against the ouster of former prime minister and party chairman Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition.
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