Shehbaz Sharif was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan on April 11. A no confidence motion was introduced against Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister on April 8 after the country passed through a week long hectic drama. The process of electing the new leader of the House began on April 10 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.
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. 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.
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.
This has brought an end to the political uncertainty that had gripped the country since a no-confidence motion was introduced against his predecessor Imran Khan on March 8.
Addressing Parliament after his election as the country’s 23rd Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif said that good has prevailed over evil. He also said that he wants good relations with India, but it can’t be achieved without resolution of Kashmir. He also told that Pakistan’s National Security Committee would be briefed on a controversial letter related to the so-called foreign conspiracy as claimed by former PM and deputy speaker. Imran Khan had alleged that the US was involved in a conspiracy to topple his government. However, he termed Imran Khan’s ‘foreign conspiracy’ claims as “drama” and asserted that “I will resign and go home if conspiracy is proved in letter controversy”..
Mr. Shehbaz is the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He received 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.
Pakistan has failed to sustain a democratically elected government since 1947, the year of partition of India. Political instability has been a feature of Pakistan and no prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term. It has seen frequent regime changes and military coups.
Pakistan is seen by many as an immature democracy or by some as a failing state. Its geo-political aspirations are far- fetched from its economic progress or modernization. It is facing a severe financial crisis and the politics of the country is highly divided.