Shehbaz Sharif Becomes Pakistan PM For A Second Term, Here's How He Made His Way To Top Post Without Majority

Shehbaz Sharif, chosen as Pakistan's prime minister for a second time on Sunday (3 March), emerges as a compromise candidate suitable for tumultuous times, as per a report by NDTV.

At 72, he was elected by lawmakers to lead a fragile coalition, sidelining supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, following inconclusive polls on 8 February.

Shehbaz, the younger brother of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is seen as the more robust and charismatic of the two.

He previously served as prime minister in 2022, leading a similar broad alliance that ousted Khan from power.

Known for his administrative skills and grassroots work in provincial politics, Sharif is also noted for his love of poetry.

While the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, led by the Sharif family, won the most seats in the election, it fell short of a majority amid allegations of pre-poll rigging and vote tampering.

Despite Khan's party winning the most seats, they too fell short of a majority, forcing them into opposition while Sharif navigates a coalition with rivals like the Pakistan Peoples Party.

In addition to managing the coalition and countering Khan's defiance, the new prime minister faces economic challenges and a deteriorating security situation.

Nawaz Sharif, the top candidate for PML-N, was sidelined in favour of Shehbaz due to his reputation as a skilled negotiator, though analysts believe Nawaz will retain significant influence within the party.

Shahbaz Sharif, who started in the family's steel business, has a long political career, including serving as chief minister of Punjab province, where he oversaw major infrastructure projects.

Critics argue he focused more on populist projects than addressing core issues, and he has faced corruption allegations, which his supporters claim are politically motivated.

Despite controversies, he remains popular, particularly in Punjab, and is seen as capable of working with even his opponents, including the powerful military.