Shehbaz Sharif Elected Pakistan's Prime Minister for Second Term After Controversial Polls

Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, was declared as the prime minister of Pakistan. He secured 201 votes in the National Assembly, surpassing the required 169 votes to form a majority. However, his election was met with protests from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who had supported Omar Ayub Khan, a candidate loyal to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. No single party secured an outright majority in the election, which was marred by allegations of rigging and delayed results. Sharif's first term as prime minister ended in August 2022. The economic and security challenges facing Pakistan are expected to continue despite the formation of a new government. It is important to note that some articles suggest that candidates affiliated with Imran Khan's PTI party were forced to run as independents, while others mention that Omar Ayub Khan was the candidate backed by Khan.