Shehbaz elected PM for second time, offers ‘charter of reconciliation’ to PTI-backed opposition

ISLAMABAD: Soon after his election as the country’s 24th prime minister with record 201 votes, PM-elect Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday offered an olive branch to the opposition with ‘Charter of Economy’ and ‘Charter of Reconciliation’ to meet the tough challenges facing the country.

In a lengthy speech in the National Assembly, Shehbaz recalled that in his maiden speech as the opposition leader in 2018, he had offered the ‘Charter of Economy’.

“Now I offer the same charter along with the Charter of Reconciliation. When your noisemaking ends and you cool down, ponder over whether I am wrong while making this offer,” he said.

Amid full-throated sloganeering from the opposition members, he said it was time to prefer wisdom (Shaoor) to noise-making (Shor). “Let us sit together for betterment of the country and reformation,” he pleaded.

He also mentioned that a deep surgery of system and revolutionary reforms in various sectors were required to meet the challenges, which were higher than the Himalayas.

Flanked by former premier Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, he touched upon every topic, including economy, foreign investment, foreign policy and mentioned that increasing foreign and domestic loans and circular debt of power and gas sectors were the country’s major challenges.

Nawaz hugged and congratulated Shehbaz soon after announcement of his success with the two siblings hardly controlling their emotions.

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Omar Ayub Khan managed to secure 92 votes.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUIP), which had already boycotted the elections of prime minister, stayed away from the proceedings with its eight MNAs.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) kept sitting in the hall and did not cast his vote.

Shehbaz got two more votes as against Speaker Ayaz Sadiq who was polled 199 votes.

As the proceedings were in progress, the National Assembly Secretariat notified the election of Shehbaz Sharif as Prime Minister. “Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Member National Assembly (NA-123), has been elected as Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan under Article 91 of the Constitution by the Members of the National Assembly having secured 201 votes in the session of the National Assembly on March 3, 2024,” the notification said.

Later, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq addressed a letter to President Arif Alvi officially informing him about the election of Shehbaz Sharif as Prime Minister.

Shehbaz also invited the opposition to move towards electoral reforms so that nobody could complain of rigging in the future polls. He pointed out that PTI-backed members in total secured 17 million votes, whereas the allied parties in total got 45 million votes.

“It is a split mandate; it is a principle of democracy that whosoever has majority should form the government and the same should be accepted,” he said. He said after a split mandate, they had invited the Sunni Ittehad Council to form the government.

He spelled out a number of initiatives to net the galloping inflation, high cost of living, price hike, circular debt in the energy sector and foreign debts, and expressed the optimism that though the mounds of challenges existed, they were not insurmountable. “My party’s Quaid Nawaz Sharif always asked me not to give deadlines, but I will say that our efforts will start bearing fruit in one year.”

He said the biggest challenge was the increasing burden of foreign loans and debt servicing.

He said as per estimates, the budget revenue stood at Rs12,300 billion and after the NFC Award distribution, the federal government was left with only Rs7,300 billion. He said after paying Rs8,000 billion in interest and services charges, the country faced a deficit of Rs7,000 billion.

He wondered from where they would get resources for development, education, health, and salaries of the federal government employees and armed forces.

Shehbaz pointed out that the expenses of the Parliament House, including the salaries of prime ministers and members, were paid from loans. He termed it an unending chain of seeking loans after loans and ‘a grave situation’ for about 250 million people. He further said that the country had sought about Rs80,000 billion external, internal and private debts in the past.

Talking about the next challenges, Shehbaz said the power sector alone was burdened with Rs2,300 billion circular debt, while the recovery faced a Rs1,000 billion gap. He said the gas sector circular debt had reached Rs2,900 billion.

He further said it was an irony of the fate that the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) were incurring Rs600 billion deficit annually and in this regard he cited PIA which was facing a debt of Rs800 billion. He maintained that tax evasion and theft in the power and gas sectors were serious matters, equating them with ‘a bottomless pit’.

“These challenges are difficult though but not impossible to resolve. It is a thorny journey full of obstacles but developed nations overcome all of them,” he observed and expressed his resolve to lead the country to the path of progress and prosperity.

Commenting on PTI’s letter to the IMF, Shehbaz said constitutional remedies were available on the election disputes but writing a letter to a foreign institution was nothing less than showing enmity towards the country. He said it also manifested that PTI leadership had no trust in the national institutions and parliament.

Shehbaz said they would strive for a network of health and educational facilities, green revolution, and construction of infrastructure and factories. To resolve these issues, he said, they would utilise the latest technology and innovations, empowerment of women and loans for the youth, adding that he was hopeful of positive effects of those steps within one year.

He further said about 500,000 students would be imparted the latest training, besides boosting the artificial intelligence and IT exports. He said the farmers’ prosperity was linked with the country’s progress and announced provision of direct fertiliser subsidy to the farmers.

He said solar tube wells programme would be launched for small farmers, while the seed mafia would be eliminated, as the government would import quality seeds. He said the upcoming government would also provide one-time free quality seeds to farmers.

He also emphasized the need for working together with all the provinces to bring revolution in the agriculture sector under the SIFC’s guidelines.

The prime minister-elect also announced to lay an efficient countrywide public transport network.

He said high achievers and performing children would be provided with scholarships and their expenditures would be borne by the federal government for their education in the world’s renowned educational institutions. He also underlined the need for quick and speedy justice system with required reforms in consultation with all the stakeholders.

Shehbaz Sharif announced that the jailed women and children, who were not involved in heinous cases and were completing their terms of less than two years, would be released and imparted skills to become useful citizens of the society. He lamented that unthinkable incidents happened in the country’s history on May 9 and said the law would take its course and those responsible for the incident would have to face action. He regretted that an atmosphere of hatred was created in the past through the use of abusive language which would take years to end.

He also announced to completely implement the National Action Plan to eliminate terrorism for good. He regretted that terrorists were released from prisons during the PTI government causing a surge in the acts of terrorism.

Shehbaz said he was totally aware of deprivation of people of Balochistan adding that it would not be possible to heal their wounds without addressing the issue of missing persons. “In the first available opportunity, I will talk to notables of Balochistan on every issue,” he said.

On the country’s foreign policy, he maintained that Pakistan would not join the ‘Great Game’ but increase its international friends while reducing the number of enemies. “First, we will mend our relations with the US and then improve those ties,” he said. He particularly mentioned the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the deep affection and fraternal ties both countries enjoyed and said Pakistan was indebted to their generous assistance.

Shehbaz also appreciated the leadership of the UAE, Turkiye and Qatar who always supported Pakistan. Bilateral relations with Kuwait, Bahrain and Iran would also be further cemented, he added. He strongly condemned continuous bombardment in Gaza saying no force of the world had been able to stop such brutalities. He said East Timor was separated from Indonesia and South Sudan was created as a new country on religious basis but nothing was done to resolve the issues of Kashmir and Palestine. He said protecting the minorities’ rights was the responsibility of the state as ordained by the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan. He also reiterated protection to the rights of women comprising about 50 percent of the country’s population.

He said the government would ensure a business-friendly environment and address the issues impacting direct foreign direct investment and tax collection. He said the mafias evading taxes should be made to pay taxes, adding that export zones facilities would also be introduced.

Shehbaz observed that tax refund delay was a big hurdle for exporters and he would direct the FBR to expedite the process, ensuring its payment within 10 days. He said promotion of SMEs was critical for providing jobs to the rural population and controlling the increasing urbanization.

He said all the banks would be directed to provide loans to the youth to run their small businesses.

He said investors from the brotherly countries might be provided with visa-free entry to encourage investment opportunities. “Work on CPEC projects would be accelerated. My government will do away with all the laws in one go hindering foreign investment,” he said.

He asked the opposition to join them in adopting a resolution condemning cruelties and gross human rights violations in Gaza and IIOJ&K.

He also warned the oil mafia to immediately convert their businesses into solar power generation and renewable energy network.

He also congratulated the newly elected speaker and deputy speaker and thanked his elder brother Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the allied parties for support.

He also lauded Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for laying the foundations of the country’s nuclear programme and termed his execution a judicial murder. He also paid homage to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who laid down her life for democracy and law and order.

Shehbaz said Nawaz Sharif’s government was toppled thrice and he was sent to the jail on fabricated cases. “Neither Nawaz nor I, Zardari and other relatives, who were sent to jail, ever talked against the interests of the country,” he said.

After Benazir Bhutto’s death, he said former president Asif Ali Zardari raised the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khappay’ which help rebuild the country. “On the contrary, during the PTI’s government, the entire opposition was sent behind bars and foul language was used against the state institutions,” he said.

Taking the floor, Omar Ayub Khan refused to accept Shehbaz Sharif as the genuine prime minister saying he was a fake premier. He said the newly elected leader of the house was a product of Form 47. He said the members of PMLN and Muttahida Qaumi Movement sitting in the House also very well know they had got a fake mandate. He said MQM had been wiped out in Karachi.

Omar said had the results been announced on the basis of Form 45, the PTI backed candidates would have won 180 direct seats and their strength would have been over 225.

“Today, a fake prime minister addressed the house, as he cannot be a member of this House,” he said, adding that with Shehbaz Sharif’s speech also showed that he had no plan to run the country.

Omar said they had also raised a point in the house when the oath was administered that aliens were sitting in the House. “Today, they also feel guilty with no expressions of happiness on their faces. It seems they have come to attend a funeral,” he said.

He demanded immediate resignation of the chief election commissioner and a judicial inquiry into rigging by looking into Forms 45. He also called for impartial judicial inquiry into May 9 incidents saying footages of GHQ and Corps Commander’s House were also available.

He said it was IMF which approached the PTI leadership seeking support for the agreement with Pakistan. Omar claimed that the upcoming government would not have the mandate for reforms saying it would not be able to deliver. “The burden of loans on Pakistan has increased due to the luxuries of these people, whereas the same should have been spent on benefitting the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, China and Iran Sunday felicitated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the prime minister of Pakistan for the second time.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang extended felicitations to the PMLN leader on his election as the 24th prime minister of Pakistan.

Jinping hoped Islamabad would be able to make new and greater achievements in national development and progress under the leadership of PM Shehbaz Sharif and the new government along with the united efforts of all sectors of Pakistan.

The Chinese leader stressed that Islamabad and Beijing should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and jointly build an upgraded version of the CPEC. The Chinese president hoped that two nations will continue to deepen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, and create more well-being for the two peoples.

Meanwhile, President of Iran Seyed Ebrahim Raiisi on Sunday congratulated Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.

In a message, the president expressed his confidence that the two countries, in the light of the deep historical and cultural links, will work harder to strengthen and expand cooperation in order to achieve the desired and befitting level of the relations between the two great nations of Iran and Pakistan.

The president stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran was fully prepared to strengthen and deepen all aspects of bilateral relations with the brotherly and neighboring country Pakistan within the framework of its constant policy.

He expressed hope that the new government of Pakistan will take steps towards the growth and prosperity of Pakistan and prayed to Almighty God for the success of the new government and the happiness and well-being of the honorable nation of Pakistan.

Iranian envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam also congratulated Shehbaz Sharif for being elected as the new prime minister of Pakistan. He expressed warmest congratulations and expanded all-out relations and bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.

Outgoing caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Sunday congratulated Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the prime minister. “Congratulations to (Shehbaz Sharif) on being elected as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan,” Kakar wrote on X.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif on being elected as prime minister for the second time. In a message, she said, “I also congratulate the people of Pakistan as they have got a Khadim.”

PMLN senior leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif congratulated Shehbaz for winning the election of prime minister.

Talking to the media at the Parliament House, he termed the prime minister’s address a historic one which had covered all the topics to facilitate the deprived segment of the country. He said after the formation of the coalition government, massive legislation would be done in the parliament which was the best forum to address the genuine issues of the masses.

PMLN leader Musadik Malik said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s address in the National Assembly would bring economic and social revolution to the country.

Talking to the media at the Parliament House, he said after the formation of the coalition government, revolutionary measures would be taken for maximum relief to the common man.