PM Modi Congratulates Pakistan’s Newly Elected PM Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Pakistan’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on his assumption of office. Sharif, who has become the 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan, took the oath of office on Monday amidst controversy surrounding his party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), and its alleged ties to the Pakistani deep state and military.

The oath-taking ceremony, presided over by President Arif Alvi, was held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, where the 72-year-old Sharif officially assumed leadership of the country for the second time. His previous stint as Prime Minister followed the ousting of Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote in 2022.

Shehbaz, representing a coalition of the PML-N and the PPP, secured 201 votes in the 336-member Pakistan parliament during the Monday session. His opponent, Omar Ayub Khan of the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), received 92 votes.

In the February 8 elections, which were tainted by accusations of vote tampering, the Sharifs-led party failed to attain a clear majority. Nevertheless, technically, it stands as the largest party with 75 out of the 265 contested seats. The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), led by Nawaz Sharif, formed a coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), headed by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Zardari-Bhutto.

During his inaugural address after re-election, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the Kashmir issue and pledged Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of Palestinians and Kashmiris.

Shehbaz also said that he will focus on working with neighbours and maintain cordial relations.