Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif named for premier slot amid political wrangling, parlays

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Amid political wrangling over stitching together a coalition government, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has named Shehbaz Sharif as its prime minister candidate, a party leader announced on Monday.

Khawaja Asif, a former foreign minister and senior PML-N leader, told reporters in his home city Sialkot in eastern Punjab province that the party has nominated Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for the coveted position.

Shehbaz Sharif served as prime minister from 2022 to 2023, leading a coalition government that included the PML-N, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), and 11 other small and religiopolitical parties.

The PML-N and PPP have won 75 and 54 seats, respectively, out of 266 direct seats in the lower house or the National Assembly in the Feb. 8 crucial elections.

The Sharifs have held parleys with the Zardaris-led PPP about forming a coalition government, but no official decision has been made yet.

Besides, the PML-N is also in discussions with the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), which has won 17 seats in the parliament as per the Election Commission of Pakistan announcement.