PML-N nominates Shehbaz Sharif for post of prime minister

Lahore, February 13

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif was nominated for the post of Pakistan’s Prime Minister by his party on Tuesday night.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said party supremo Nawaz Sharif (74) had nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif (72) as candidate for the post of PM and his daughter Maryam Nawaz (50) for the post of Punjab province chief minister.

United Nations keeps close watch

• The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the latter is following Pakistan’s situation very closely.
• The world body has urged the authorities and leaders to refrain from violence and avoid actions that could increase tensions.

“Nawaz Sharif has thanked the political parties that provided support to the PML-N and expressed hope that Pakistan will come out of crises through such decisions,” she said.

Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday withdrew from the race, saying his party would support the ex-premier without being part of the government. Despite independent candidates backed by jailed former PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party springing a surprise by winning the most seats in Parliament, questions loom over what the next government of Pakistan will look like five days after the general elections.

None of the three major parties — the PML-N, the PPP or the PTI — has won the necessary seats in the February 8 general elections to secure a majority in the National Assembly.

Addressing a press conference here after a meeting of the PPP’s high-powered central executive committee, held under his leadership, Bilawal has said the reality is that his party does not have a mandate to form a federal government. “Due to this, I will not be putting myself forward for the candidacy of the PM,” the 35-year-old former foreign minister said, adding that PML-N and the independents have greater numbers in the Centre.

Bilawal’s announcement came hours after former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, 74, would become the prime minister for a record fourth time.

Independents, mostly backed by the PTI, secured 101 seats, followed by PML-N (75 seats), PPP (54) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (17).

Meanwhile, jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan warned his political rivals against the “misadventure” of forming a government with “stolen votes”.