Who is Shehbaz Sharif — the man who could replace Pakistan PM Imran Khan?
Who is Shehbaz Sharif?
Shehbaz Sharif, brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has been the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018.
The president of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has previously served as the chief minister of Punjab thrice, making him the longest-serving CM of the province.
He was elected to the Punjab provincial assembly in 1988, and to the National Assembly in 1990. He was again elected to the Punjab assembly in 1993 and named leader of the Opposition. He was elected as chief minister for the first time in 1997.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said leader of the opposition Shehbaz Sharif will soon become the prime minister of the country as Imran Khan “has now lost majority” in the National Assembly.
The PPP chairman said Sharif has challenged the Pakistan Prime Minister to resign from office.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the confidence vote which is expected to take place in the next few days, Bhutto thanked Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) for joining hands with the Opposition and deciding to support them to oust Khan as PM in the no-trust vote.
He said the voting should be held on Thursday.
The leader of Khan’s main parliamentary ally, the MQM, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced his party was joining the bloc looking to oust Khan following a written agreement between the two sides.
“Imran Khan has now lost his majority. He is no longer the prime minister. The parliament session is tomorrow. Let’s hold voting tomorrow and settle this matter. We can then start working on transparent elections and the journey towards restoration of democracy and an end to economic crisis can then begin,” the PPP chairman said.
