ISLAMABAD: On Monday, Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took oath as Pakistan’s 24th prime minister at the President’s House in the federal capital.
President Dr. Arif Alvi administered the oath to the newly-elected premier in the presence of several dignitaries, including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir. The ceremony was attended by leaders from various mainstream political parties such as the PML-N, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).
Notable figures present at the ceremony included PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Additionally, the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan—Maryam Nawaz, Murad Ali Shah, and Sarfraz Bugti—graced the occasion.
Ambassadors and diplomats from different countries were also in attendance.
Shehbaz Sharif secured the prime minister’s position after winning the vote on Sunday, marking his second term in office. He received 201 votes, defeating his opponent Omar Ayub Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who received 92 votes.
Supported by seven other parties besides the PML-N, Shehbaz’s victory was widely anticipated. These parties include the PPP, MQM-P, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and National Party (NP).
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will welcome the new premier at the Prime Minister’s House. Kakar has vacated the PM House but will continue to fulfill his duties until the official notification of the new chief executive. He has been allocated a residence in the Minister’s Enclave.
