ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the 24th Prime Minister of the country on Monday, with President Arif Alvi presiding over the swearing-in ceremony at the President’s House.
Various dignitaries, including leaders from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, among others, graced the occasion.
Notable attendees included PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari, and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, alongside the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan — Maryam Nawaz, Murad Ali Shah, and Sarfraz Bugti, respectively.
Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and high-ranking military officials, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and others, were also present. Ambassadors and diplomats from various countries were among the distinguished guests.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz was accorded a guard of honor and warmly welcomed by his staff.
Shehbaz, serving as the president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), resumed his role as the country’s premier after a previous tenure from April 2022 to August 2023.
This marks Shehbaz’s second term as Prime Minister, securing victory with 201 votes against his opponent Omar Ayub Khan, backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who received 92 votes during a tumultuous session of the Parliament’s lower house.
Shehbaz’s win was anticipated due to his broad support base comprising seven parties alongside PML-N. The Prime Minister-elect garnered support from PPP, MQM-P, PML-Q, BAP, PML-Z, IPP, and National Party.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is set to welcome the incoming premier at the Prime Minister’s House. Kakar will continue his duties until the official notification of the new chief executive. He has been allocated a residence in the Minister’s Enclave.
Preparations are underway at the PM House to receive the new Prime Minister, with arrangements for a guard of honor and a warm welcome in anticipation of clear weather following a recent spell of rain.
(Islamabad51_Neewsdesk)
