New Delhi: Amid ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan over exit of Imran Khan via no-confidence vote, is Parliament will elect a new Prime Minister on Monday. Shahbaz Sharif, the candidate backed by Opposition is widely tipped to be next Prime Minister of Pakistan as Imran-led PTI has lost majority.
The 70-year-old Shahbaz Sharif has served as Chief Minister of Punjab thrice and is being supported by a rainbow coalition of Opposition parties. While, Imran Khan-led Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) projected outgoing foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as its candidate and have also launched big campaign to gain support from public.
Both Qureshi and Sharif filed their nomination papers on Sunday for the National Assembly, which will elect a new leader today at about 2 pm.
Qureshi, who comes from an influential family in Pakistan has served as Pakistan foreign minister twice and was a front-runner in race for PM in 2008 elections, however, he had to settle with Foreign Ministry.
Imran Khan-led PTI is not taking it lightly after their leader saw a humiliating exit as Pak PM after losing trust vote and has launched wide-scale demonstration to build support for its candidate. PTI supporters held a big protest rally at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk against ouster of Imran Khan. Big gatherings have been reported from various other provinces including including Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Vehari, Jehlum and Gujrat districts.
Imran supporters & PTI volunteers are agitated over foreign hand in his ouster and are chanting slogans against the US, as Imran Khan himself claims that it hatched conspiracy against him.
Imran-led PTI has also filed review petition in Supreme Court challenging its decision to declare the Deputy speaker’s call to dismiss the no-confidence resolution against the Prime Minister as unconstitutional.
