Shehbaz Sharif Elected as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Amidst Protests and Allegations of Rigging
In a dramatic turn of events, Shehbaz Sharif has been elected as Pakistan’s new prime minister for the second time. However, his victory has been marred by protests and allegations of rigging from the opposition party led by imprisoned former premier Imran Khan. The National Assembly erupted in chaos as Khan’s allies shouted in protest, claiming that last month’s election was rigged.
Shehbaz Sharif, the brother of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, replaced Imran Khan after his removal in a no-confidence vote in April 2022. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced that Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who received 92 votes. This victory gives Sharif a majority in the National Assembly.
Ayub was backed by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI), which failed to secure enough seats to form a government on its own. The PTI refused to engage in talks with its rivals to form a coalition government. After days of negotiations, Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party and his supporters formed an alliance following the February 8 election.
The election itself was marred by various challenges, including militant violence, a nationwide mobile phone shutdown, and the exclusion of Imran Khan from the vote. The delay in announcing the result also drew criticism from Khan’s party, which claims that the vote was rigged to prevent them from gaining a majority. The Election Commission denies these allegations.
In his acceptance speech in parliament, Shehbaz Sharif addressed the accusations against him and his party. He stated, “We were subjected to political victimization in the past but never took any revenge.” Without directly naming Khan, he referred to the imprisonment of political rivals, including himself and his ally Asif Ali Zardari. Sharif also accused Khan’s supporters of attacking military installations during protests against his ouster in 2022. He emphasized that it is now up to parliament and the courts to decide whether those involved in the attacks deserve a pardon.
However, Sharif’s speech was met with protests and shouts from lawmakers holding portraits of Imran Khan. They accused him of being a “vote thief” and causing chaos in parliament. Sharif called for evidence of vote rigging to be presented to the relevant authorities and offered reconciliation to the opposition. Despite his efforts, protests and allegations of rigging continue to plague his government.
One of Sharif’s biggest challenges as prime minister will be the economic situation in Pakistan. The country has been relying on foreign loans to sustain its economy, and there is a need to address a surge in militant attacks, improve relations with neighboring Afghanistan, repair infrastructure, and resolve power outages. Additionally, maintaining political stability is crucial as Imran Khan’s party has vowed to continue protesting against the alleged vote rigging.
Omar Ayub, who lost to Sharif in the election, commended Imran Khan for his bravery in facing the cases against him. He denounced the arrest of thousands of Khan’s supporters last year and reiterated the allegations of vote rigging. Ayub demanded a probe into last month’s poll, claiming that PTI votes were tampered with and stolen to prevent their party from forming a government.
The controversy surrounding the election has also extended to international organizations. Imran Khan recently wrote a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), urging them to link any talks with Pakistan to an audit of the February election. This move comes just before the IMF releases a key installment of a bailout loan to Pakistan. The country has been relying on bailouts from the IMF, China, and Saudi Arabia to avoid defaulting on its debts.
Despite the challenges ahead, Shehbaz Sharif remains determined to lead Pakistan through these turbulent times. He has already received congratulations from Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the importance of maintaining strong ties with international partners.
As Shehbaz Sharif prepares to be sworn in as Pakistan’s prime minister, the nation watches with anticipation to see how he will address the economic, political, and security challenges that lie ahead. Only time will tell if he can unite the country and bring about the positive change that Pakistan desperately needs.
