Shehbaz Sharif elected as new PM of Pakistan

Islamabad: The National Assembly of Pakistan Sunday elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif as the 16th Leader of the House and the 24th Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 

As soon as the session of the National Assembly presided over by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq started, the members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) started protesting in front of the speaker's dais, but later moved to their seats.

Before the process of electing the new Leader of the House, the bells were rung for five minutes following the order of the Speaker. After the bells were rung, the doors of the House were closed and the Speaker announced that the members who are in favor of Shehbaz Sharif should move to ‘Lobby A’, while members in favor of Umar Ayub should move to ‘Lobby B’.

The Jamat-e-Ulema Islami (JUI) members did not take part in the election process of the Prime Minister and before the doors of the National Assembly hall were closed, they walked out of the hall while Sardar Akhtar Mengal remained seated in the House and did not cast his vote for anyone.

Shehbaz Sharif was the candidate for the post of Prime Minister on behalf of the ruling alliance while his opponent was Umar Ayub Khan of the Sunni Alliance Council.

Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced the election of Shehbaz Sharif as Leader of the House and Prime Minister of Pakistan. He said that Shehbaz Sharif managed to secure 201 votes, while his opponent Umar Ayub got 92 votes.