The question on everyone’s mind in Islamabad, Pakistan is, who will be the next prime minister of the country? The parliament is set to convene on Thursday for the first time since the controversial February 8 national elections, which were marred by allegations of rigging and manipulation of results.
The election resulted in a split verdict, with independent candidates backed by Imran Khan’s PTI party winning 93 seats, followed by Nawaz Sharif’s PMLN securing 75, and the PPP winning 54 seats. The PMLN and the PPP are in a coalition to form the government, with one PTI-backed legislator also joining Sharif’s party.
As the National Assembly meets, the two main contenders for the position of prime minister are Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub Khan. Shehbaz, expected to be elected due to the numbers, has a reputation as an efficient administrator, while Omar comes from a political family and has served as a federal minister.
Shehbaz’s biggest challenge, if he becomes the PM, will be to stabilize the economy, while Omar’s perseverance in the face of adversity has earned him the nomination as his bloc’s candidate for the premiership. Both politicians have their strengths and supporters, setting the stage for a closely watched and potentially contentious leadership battle.