New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Shehbaz Sharif, the newly-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, marking the Indian government’s initial response following the recent elections in the neighboring nation.
Shehbaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif, assumed office as prime minister on Monday, amidst a backdrop of controversy and allegations of electoral malpractice. He was sworn in by President Arif Alvi at the presidential office in Islamabad, a day after securing parliamentary approval despite protests from lawmakers supporting incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.
In a tweet, Modi conveyed his felicitations to @CMShehbaz upon his swearing-in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, following Sharif’s reappointment to the position on Sunday.
Congratulations to @CMShehbaz on being sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 5, 2024
Earlier in the month, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), with 75 seats, and the Pakistan Peoples Party, with 54 seats, formed a coalition government, despite candidates supported by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan securing the highest number of seats (93) in the National Assembly’s 266 elected seats.
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Imran Khan has contested the legitimacy of the new government led by Shehbaz Sharif, alleging it to be a violation of the people’s mandate.
Shehbaz Sharif, aged 72, previously served as Pakistan’s prime minister from April 2022 to August 2023, before the dissolution of the country’s parliament preceding the February 8 elections.
Pakistan has recently appointed a new charge d’affaires and is contemplating holding its National Day celebrations in Delhi, signaling a cautious and incremental move towards engagement with India. However, India is expected to observe developments in the new Pakistani government until May, when the outcome of the Indian parliamentary elections becomes clear.
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