By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, was sworn in as Pakistan’s prime minister for a second term on Monday, after a tumultuous election last month that was marred by allegations of fraud and protests by the opposition.
Sharif, 72, a veteran politician and the younger brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by the Supreme Court in 2017 on corruption charges, took the oath of office at a ceremony at the presidential house in Islamabad.
He vowed to serve the country of 241 million people with honesty and in accordance with the constitution and the law.
“I will discharge my duties and perform my functions honestly, to the best of my ability, faithfully in accordance with the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the law,” Sharif said as he took the oath, administered by President Arif Alvi.
Sharif’s election came three weeks after the Feb. 8 general elections, which resulted in a hung parliament, with no single party winning a clear majority. Sharif, who previously served as the prime minister from April 2022 to August 2023, faces a daunting task of leading a country that is grappling with multiple crises, including a faltering economy, a fragile security situation and strained relations with some of its neighbors and allies.
Sharif received congratulatory messages from several world leaders, including the presidents of China, Iran and Turkey, who expressed their confidence in his leadership and their willingness to enhance their bilateral relations with Pakistan.
President Xi Jinping of China said in his message that he was confident that under Sharif’s leadership, Pakistan would be able to make new and greater achievements in the cause of national development and progress.
“President Xi Jinping in his message expressed the confidence that under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif Pakistan would be able to make new and greater achievements in the cause of national development and progress,” the state-run Radio Pakistan reported. “Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has also sent a congratulatory message to the newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”
President Hassan Rouhani of Iran said in his message that he hoped that Sharif’s election would lead to the expansion of the brotherly and neighborly relations between Iran and Pakistan, and to the promotion of peace and stability in the region.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said in his message that he warmly congratulated Sharif on his election as the prime minister of Pakistan and expressed confidence in his ability to steer Pakistan on a path of progress and prosperity.
“Prime Minister-elect Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a congratulatory telephone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement on Monday.
President Erdogan warmly congratulated Prime Minister-elect on his election as Prime Minister of Pakistan and expressed confidence in his ability to steer Pakistan on a path of progress and prosperity.”
Sharif also received a congratulatory phone call from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, who wished him success in his new role and praised the strong and brotherly relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
“His Highness Crown Prince congratulated Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on the occasion of his swearing in as the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the official Saudi Press Agency said on social media X.
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