Pakistan Prime Minister Designate Shehbaz Sharif, by mistake, called himself the ‘Leader of Opposition’ while addressing the National Assembly on Sunday, Geo News reported.
Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader became the prime minister of Pakistan for a second time to lead a coalition government after he won a majority in the newly-elected Parliament amid the ruckus created by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members.
Sharif is expected to take oath on Monday, sources were cited as saying by ARY News. President Arif Alvi will administer the oath to the newly elected PM at a ceremony at the President’s House at 3 pm on Monday.
The 72-year-old leader received 201 votes, which was 32 more than what was required to become leader of the House in the 336-member Parliament. Meanwhile, PML-N’s opponent Omar Ayub Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 92 votes.
After winning the majority in the assembly, Sharif said, “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the members who elected me as the leader of the opposition with their votes and affection.”
He also raised the Kashmir issue and demanded the ‘freedom’ of Kashmiris and Palestinians.
“Let’s all come together… and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians,” the PML-N leader said in his ‘victory speech’.
He also hailed his brother, Nawaz Sharif, in his speech. “When my Quaid (leader Nawaz) was elected the prime minister thrice, the development that followed in the country is an example of its own, An it is not wrong to say that Nawaz Sharif is the one who built Pakistan,” he said.
Shehbaz Sharif earlier served as a prime minister of a coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before the Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.
Besides being backed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Shehbaz also enjoys support from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Balochistan Awami Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Z), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and the National Party.
(With ANI inputs)
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