It’s been a tumultuous week in Pakistani politics. Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote on Sunday after a week-long political drama that brought the Muslim-majority country of 220 million to the brink of democratic collapse.
Khan, a former cricket star, came to power in 2018 promising a “new Pakistan” and the creation of an Islamic welfare state after building a loyal following among young Pakistanis. In recent months he had struggled with a deteriorating economy and serious inflation, making enemies among the opposition and losing the support of powerful military leaders.
He defied an earlier no-confidence vote by dissolving the legislature in early April, claiming there was a foreign conspiracy to oust him. Opposition leaders turned to the Supreme Court, which ruled in their favor on Thursday, saying the vote must be held.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s parliament voted to overthrow Khan by 174 out of 342 votes, two more than a simple majority would be required. In his place, Shehbaz Sharif, a veteran politician and opposition leader, was elected prime minister by parliament until Pakistanis can elect a leader in general elections. which must be convened by July 2023 at the latest. Since the country’s founding in 1947, no Prime Minister of Pakistan has completed a five-year term.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan overthrown in a no-confidence vote
Here’s what you need to know about Pakistan’s new prime minister.
Shehbaz Sharif was born on September 23, 1951 in Lahore, Pakistan, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, who would become Prime Minister three times. Her father, Muhammad Sharif, founded the Ittefaq Group, a steel producer. Shehbaz Sharif followed in his father’s footsteps and became a businessman and co-owner of a Pakistani steel company, according to Al Jazeera.
How did he get into politics?
Shehbaz Sharif was the Prime Minister of Punjab, the largest and wealthiest in Pakistan province, for three terms. During this time he undertook ambitious infrastructure projects and gained a reputation for good governance and efficiency. “He’s seen as someone who gets things done,” said Madiha Afzal, fellow of the Brookings Institution’s foreign policy program.
In 1997 he was elected Prime Minister of Punjab for the first time; three years later he went into exile in Saudi Arabia after a military coup led by Pervez Musharraf against Nawaz Sharif. Shehbaz Sharif returned to Pakistan in 2007 and was re-elected Prime Minister of Punjab in 2008.
He became leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, one of the country’s largest political parties, after his brother was sentenced to prison in 2018.
Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years for corruption and fined $10.6 million after the Panama Papers investigation, which examined 11.5 million leaked documents and showed how the powerful and wealthy hid their wealth in offshore accounts sentenced. Documents leaked by Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian offshore contractor, revealed how three of Sharif’s children – Mariam, Hasan and Husain – were linked to offshore companies, posing as the owners of four luxury apartments in London, the report said International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
Nawaz Sharif denied any wrongdoing and was banned from holding political office by the Supreme Court, partly because of an anti-corruption campaign led by Imran Khan. Shehbaz Sharif called the Pakistani court’s verdict “undemocratic”.
Nawaz Sharif’s legal problems appeared to jeopardize the future of Sharif’s political dynasty. Wealthy and powerful families have dominated Pakistani politics, led by the Sharifs and the Bhuttos.
Shehbaz and his son and political heir Hamza, who was elected Punjab’s next prime minister, have also faced corruption allegations.
What challenges does Sharif face?
The country is in the midst of one of Asia’s worst inflationary crises, with fuel and food costs up 15.1 percent year-on-year in mid-March, according to the Financial Times. Two-thirds of Pakistanis say inflation is Pakistan’s biggest problem, according to a Gallup poll cited by the newspaper.
During a speech on Sunday, Sharif pledged to bring unity and tackle the economy.
“The economic challenges are enormous and we must find a way out of these problems. We will have to spill sweat and blood to revive the economy,” he said, according to Al Jazeera. He added that his government will accelerate China-backed infrastructure projects in Pakistan under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
It is unclear whether Sharif will remain in power for a year and then hold elections or call snap elections. “That’s a big question. We don’t know yet,” Afzal said.
Unlike his brother, who fell out of favor with the military, Sharif is known for having a good relationship with military leaders and he is not a figure likely to anger them, Afzal said.
But there could be other challenges ahead.
“He has never held national office before, apart from being an opposition leader for the past three years, so this will be a test for him,” Afzal said.