Shahbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League party (Nawaz faction), was elected the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan. The vote took place in the country's National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) and was broadcast by local TV channels.
Sharif received 174 votes. The lower house has a total of 342 deputies.
Shahbaz Sharif, 70, the younger brother of former Pakistan's three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was nominated for prime minister by representatives of opposition parties on Sunday. A swearing-in ceremony for the new prime minister is expected Monday night.
The political crisis in Pakistan began on April 3, when the opposition initiated an attempt to declare a vote of no confidence on Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan, who came to power in 2018, was accused of failing to improve the country's economic situation as well as corruption. On the prime minister's advice, Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on April 3 after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri argued that such a vote would have violated the country's constitution.
However, on April 7, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that the decision to dissolve the National Assembly and cancel the vote of no confidence in Khan was unconstitutional. The court ordered that the lower house of parliament be reinstated and that the vote be held on April 9. As a result, Khan lost his seat and the House set Monday for the election of a new head of government.
GSV ''Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials TASS