In Pakistan, three weeks after elections marred by serious suspicions of fraud, the National Assembly elected – this Sunday March 3 – Shehbaz Sharif, 72, Prime Minister of the country. The former head of government in 2022 and 2023 was elected with 201 votes against 92 for Omar Ayub Khan, the candidate supported by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The election took place in a stormy climate.
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At Pakistanthe election of Shebhaz Sharif took place on March 3 in a very agitated atmosphere marked by exchanges of insults with the supporters of the very popular Imran Khan, former head of government ousted by a motion of censure, imprisoned since August and sentenced to heavy prison terms.
Fake?
His supporters once again criticized their rivals for brazenly rigging the vote, at the initiative of the powerful army, in order to prevent Khan’s party from returning to power. Shehbaz Sharif and his party, Pakistan Muslim League had a very disappointing electoral performance. Coming in second place, the party had to join forces with the PPP, its historic rival, and other small parties to form a coalition.
Soft and tenacious
The new prime minister, known to be both flexible and tenacious, is considered more conciliatory towards the army than his brother Nawaz, three times prime minister. Shebhaz Sharif, who is sworn in on Monday for a five-year mandate, will have the difficult task of maintaining the cohesion of her government but above all of redressing a disastrous economic situation.
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