Imran, Shehbaz set to contest for country's top office
Voting for prime minister to take place on August 17
Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan. PHOTO: FILE
Imran Khan and Shehbaz Sharif will battle for the country's highest office as the nomination papers for the two top leaders were accepted for the coveted position of prime minister.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan submitted his nomination papers on Wednesday and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif's papers were accepted on Thursday.
The Madina of Imran Khan
Lawmakers in the Lower House will vote to decide who steers the country for the next five years as Pakistan made its second democratic transition.
With Pakistan Peoples Party's Murad Ali Shah being re-elected as Chief Minister, Sindh and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Mehmood Khan being elected as CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the post of PM becomes convoluted.
PPP also announced that they will not be voting for Shehbaz for the PM slot. Jamaat-e-Islami has absconded from voting as well. The 'joint' opposition will face a strengthening PTI at the NA where they are currently in majority. PTI's Asad Qaiser secured 176 votes against PPP's Khursheed Shah who only managed 146 votes as the assembly met to pick the speaker and deputy speaker.
Judging from these numbers, Imran's 22-year-old struggle will see him taking the oath for the coveted seat. His predecessor, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was in office for a few short months following the landmark disqualification of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif.
While Nawaz serves his sentence in Central Jail Rawalpindi, his younger brother struggles to spin the same magic. Shehbaz will take the mantle as the Lower House's opposition leader if Imran is elected premier and will head the opposition which will act as a bulwark against the ruling party.
Indian star cricketer Sidhu granted visa for Imran's oath-taking ceremony
The odds are not in Shehbaz's favour, but if he does manage to win, it would be one of the biggest upsets in Pakistan's recent political history. The election is scheduled for August 17.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan submitted his nomination papers on Wednesday and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif's papers were accepted on Thursday.
The Madina of Imran Khan
Lawmakers in the Lower House will vote to decide who steers the country for the next five years as Pakistan made its second democratic transition.
With Pakistan Peoples Party's Murad Ali Shah being re-elected as Chief Minister, Sindh and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Mehmood Khan being elected as CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the post of PM becomes convoluted.
PPP also announced that they will not be voting for Shehbaz for the PM slot. Jamaat-e-Islami has absconded from voting as well. The 'joint' opposition will face a strengthening PTI at the NA where they are currently in majority. PTI's Asad Qaiser secured 176 votes against PPP's Khursheed Shah who only managed 146 votes as the assembly met to pick the speaker and deputy speaker.
Judging from these numbers, Imran's 22-year-old struggle will see him taking the oath for the coveted seat. His predecessor, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was in office for a few short months following the landmark disqualification of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif.
While Nawaz serves his sentence in Central Jail Rawalpindi, his younger brother struggles to spin the same magic. Shehbaz will take the mantle as the Lower House's opposition leader if Imran is elected premier and will head the opposition which will act as a bulwark against the ruling party.
Indian star cricketer Sidhu granted visa for Imran's oath-taking ceremony
The odds are not in Shehbaz's favour, but if he does manage to win, it would be one of the biggest upsets in Pakistan's recent political history. The election is scheduled for August 17.