Pakistan’s recently re-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending his congratulations on his renewed tenure.
“Appreciation to @narendramodi for the well wishes on my re-election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” Sharif conveyed in a message on a social media platform.
Shehbaz Sharif, aged 72, secured his second term as Pakistan’s premier on March 3, garnering 201 votes in the parliament amidst protests. The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Pakistan President Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.
Leading a coalition government alongside Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Sharif’s party, the PML-N, holds a significant position in the political landscape. PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif publicly endorsed his younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, for the prime ministerial role and party loyalist Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for the position of the speaker of the national assembly.
Earlier in the week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on assuming office as the 24th prime minister of Pakistan.
“Congratulations to @CMShehbaz on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” Modi shared on a social media platform.
During his acceptance speech in the National Assembly after securing his position as the 24th prime minister for the second time since 2022, Sharif emphasized his government’s commitment to maintaining cordial relations with neighboring countries based on principles of equality, as reported by PTI.
“We will uphold relations with our neighbors on the grounds of equality,” he affirmed.
However, Sharif also addressed the Kashmir issue, paralleling it with Palestine. “Let’s unite…the National Assembly should pass a resolution advocating for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians,” he urged.
Regarding the outcome of the Pakistan elections:
- Independent candidates allied with Imran Khan’s PTI secured 93 out of 265 national assembly seats.
- Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N emerged victorious in 75 seats in the national assembly.
- The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured 54 seats in the national assembly.
- The Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), representing Urdu-speaking migrants from India during partition, gained 17 seats.
- The election for one seat was postponed following the demise of a candidate.
According to Pakistan’s constitution, a party must secure 133 out of the 265 contested seats in the 266-member national assembly to establish a government.
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