Islamabad, Mar 3 (EFE).- Lawmakers in Pakistan\u2019s National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, elected Shehbaz Sharif for a second term as prime minister amid protests from opposition members on Sunday.<\/p>
Sharif, who previously held office from April 2022 to August 2023 following the removal of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, was nominated by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by his elder brother, Nawaz Sharif.<\/p>
Allies of jailed Khan shouted slogans in protest against Sharif\u2019s appointment, alleging rigging in the general elections.<\/p>
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif got 201 votes, defeating his rival Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council, who got 92 votes. Sharif only needed 169 votes to get a majority.<\/p>
\u201cMian Shehbaz Sharif is declared to have been elected as prime minister,\u201d Sadiq said.<\/p>
Sharif assumed office as the country faced severe economic instability, debt crises, rising militancy, and climate challenges.<\/p>
Sharif vowed to address the nation’s pressing issues, emphasizing hope and determination.<\/p>
\u201cIn the parliament, we are sitting in, it is being run by debts, and the salaries of lawmakers are also being paid through debts,\u201d Shehbaz said during his speech.<\/p>
He said he was hopeful the challenges were not impossible to meet.<\/p>
Lawmakers backed by PTI kept raising slogans during the speech by the newly elected prime minister.<\/p>
Sharif\u2019s PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto\u2019s Pakistan People Party (PPP) had agreed to form a coalition government along with other smaller parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P).<\/p>
However, the PPP has said it will only lend outside support to the government and will refrain from being part of it.<\/p>
President Arif Alvi is expected to administer the oath to the newly elected prime minister of the nation of 240 million people on Monday.<\/p>
PTI workers and activists continue to protest the election results, alleging rigging, though the Election Commission of Pakistan has dismissed these claims, asserting the fairness of the electoral process.<\/p>
The PTI claims that its mandate was \u201cstolen\u201d during the vote count, causing its candidates to lose.<\/p>
The Election Commission of Pakistan has rejected the allegations, claiming the elections were free and fair. EFE<\/p>
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