Shehbaz Sharif elected as Pakistan’s prime minister for a second term

Sharif returns to the role he held until August, when parliament was dissolved ahead of the elections and a caretaker government took over

The new government will have to immediately start talks with the IMF for the next agreement to shore up the country’s economy

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Published: 5:00pm, 3 Mar 2024Updated: 5:22pm, 3 Mar 2024

Pakistan’s newly formed parliament on Sunday elected Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister for a second time, three weeks after uncertain national elections caused delays in the formation of a coalition government.

“Shehbaz Sharif is declared to have been elected the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said, after announcing Sharif had secured 201 votes, above the required 169 votes in the house.

He beat Omar Ayub, the candidate backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who secured 92 votes.

The declaration was met with loud protests from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party backed by Khan. The lawmakers called for Khan’s release and shouted slogans alleging Sharif had come to power through electoral rigging.

The February 8 election was marred by a mobile internet shutdown, arrests and violence in its build-up, and the unusually delayed results triggered accusations that the vote was rigged.