Shehbaz Sharif elected as 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

Shehbaz Sharif was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday, bringing to an end the political uncertainty that had gripped the country since a no-confidence motion was introduced against his predecessor Imran Khan on March 8. The 70-year old Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Chief will succeed Imran Khan, who has been removed by a no-trust vote recently in the National Assembly. Shehbaz Sharif is the brother of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Shehbaz, the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, received 174 votes — two more than the simple majority of 172.

Sharif said a selected prime minister was removed using constitutional and legal means, the first time a PM was removed through a no-confidence motion. He has served as chief minister of the country’s most populous and politically crucial Punjab province thrice. Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chair Asif Ali Zardari had proposed Shehbaz’s name for the prime minister’s position in a joint opposition meeting to replace Khan through a no-confidence motion.