Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif was Sunday elected as Prime Minister of the country for the second time. Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced Shehbaz Sharif as PM after he secured 201 votes against PTI candidate Omar Ayub Khan’s 92 votes.
Sadiq asked the Assembly staff to ring the bell for five minutes so that any member that is not present in the house could come to the floor for the PM’s election.
After the bells were rung, Sadiq directed the National Assembly staff to lock the doors and announced the method for electing PM, according to Geo News report.
Following this, the Pakistan National Assembly speaker informed the lawmakers about the candidates who were contesting for the PM’s post.
He said, “Valid nominated candidates are Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub. Honourable members who wish to vote in favour of Shehbaz may proceed to the lobby on the right side designated as ‘Lobby A’.”
The session started with the oath-taking of PML-N leader Jam Kamal. However, the House soon started echoing slogans and chants raised by SIC members in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the eight-party alliance backing Shehbaz Sharif.
In the controversial elections, Imran Khan’s PTI-backed independents secured victory in 97 of the 265 seats, followed by Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N which won 76 seats. As many as 54 seats were won by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
The PTI alleged rigging in the counting of votes and claimed that it’s candidates were winning on more than 150 seats.