Shehbaz to take oath as Pak premier today

Islamabad, March 2

Top PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif is set to become the 33rd PM of Pakistan on Sunday, once again as the head of a coalition government. Shehbaz, who is the joint candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has already submitted his nomination. His challenger, Omar Ayub Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), too has filed papers.

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The PML-N president, Shehbaz, 72, is the younger brother of former three-time PM Nawaz Sharif, 74. Voting in the National Assembly to elect the new PM would be held on Sunday, according to the National Assembly Secretariat. The successful candidate will be administered the oath of office on Monday at the Presidential mansion, Aiwan-e-Sadr. Shehbaz is known as an able administrator due to the swift execution of mega-development projects while serving as Chief Minister of the Punjab province. However, he failed to exhibit the qualities when elevated to serve as Prime Minister for a 16-month stint in 2022.

He faces the menacing challenges of a fragile economy and the increasing threat of terrorism. His government would also have to face the street power of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which has been protesting against the alleged rigging of elections. — PTI

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