Shahid Khaqan Abbasi succeeds Nawaz Sharif as Pakistan Prime Minister

Islamabad: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a die-hard loyalist of Nawaz Sharif, was on Tuesday elected Prime Minister by Pakistan’s National Assembly and put up a strong defence of the ousted leader saying that he may have been disqualified by the Supreme Court but remains the “people’s premier”.

Abbasi, 58, was elected as Pakistan’s 18th premier after getting 221 votes in the House of 342, defeating his three rivals emphatically.

Naveed Qamar of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) got 47 votes, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, an Awami Muslim League leader who was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s candidate, got 33 votes, while Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sahibzada Tariqullah managed just four votes.

Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominated Abbasi, the former petroleum minister, as interim Prime Minister until Sharif’s brother Shehbaz is elected as a National Assembly member.

“Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been declared as elected as Prime minister of Islamabad Republic of Pakistan,” National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced amid sloganeering.

He then asked Abbasi to take the seat of the prime minister and address the House.

Abbasi, while addressing Parliament after the voting, said that his election was a victory for democracy.

He heavily criticised the Supreme Court judgement which disqualified Sharif.

“I am grateful to you all, for following the democratic process — whether you voted for or against me. I am grateful to the people of Pakistan, and I am grateful to the ‘people’s premier’, Nawaz Sharif,” Abbasi said in his acceptance speech.

“I am also grateful to the opposition and Imran Khan, for remembering us in their daily slandering,” he said.

Describing the Supreme Court verdict last week disqualifying Sharif over the Panama Papers scandal as an “unprecedented decision”, Abbasi hailed his party for its unity.

“Within four days, the democratic process is back on track. There were no defections. There was no dissension in our ranks,” Abbasi said.

He praised Sharif’s leadership and principles and criticised the opposition for accusing him of corruption.