ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s newly formed parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday as prime minister for a second time, three weeks after uncertain national elections caused delays in the formation of a coalition government.
“Shehbaz Sharif is declared to have been elected the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said, after announcing Sharif had secured 201 votes, above the required 169 votes in the house.
He beat Omar Ayub, the candidate backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who secured 92 votes.
The declaration was met with loud protests from the Ittehad Council party backed by Khan. The lawmakers called for Khan’s release and shouted slogans alleging Sharif had come to power through electoral rigging.
The Feb. 8 election was marred by a mobile internet shutdown, arrests and violence in its build-up and the unusually delayed results triggered accusations that the vote was rigged.
Sharif returned to the role he held until August when parliament was dissolved ahead of the elections and a caretaker government took over. No single party won a majority.
Sharif, 72, is the younger brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who spearheaded their Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party’s election campaign.
Candidates backed by Khan gained the most seats but the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) agreed to form a coalition government, which enabled Shehbaz Sharif to be elected as prime minister as his brother stepped aside.
Pakistan held elections on Feb. 8 amidst controversy, with a mobile internet shutdown, arrests, and violence during the lead-up to the polls. The delayed results sparked accusations of vote rigging and electoral fraud.
Throughout the 77-year history of Pakistan, no prime minister has managed to serve a full five-year term, due to the significant political influence wielded by the military.