Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appoints a government of faithful
Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani Prime Minister, revealed the main members of his government, mostly loyalists who have already been ministers in the past, following the February 8 elections marred by strong suspicions of fraud.
Shehbaz Sharif (our photo), 72 years old, who was already head of the Pakistani government from April 2022 to August 2023, allocated 19 portfolios this Monday, March 11, 2024.
REUTERS - AKHTAR SOOMRO
By: RFI with AFP
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Shehbaz Sharif, 72, who was already head of the Pakistani government from April 2022 to August 2023, allocated, this Monday March 11, 19 portfolios, which mainly go to members of his party, the Pakistan Muslim League
(
PML -NOT).
But, to return to power, the PML-N this time had to seal a coalition agreement with its historic rival, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and several other small parties.
No ministers for the PPP
However, as it had suggested, the PPP refused any ministerial post, but will still support the government.
In return, Asif Ali Zardari, husband of the assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and father of Bilawal, was elected
President of Pakistan
on Saturday March 9 .
He had already held this essentially honorary function between 2008 and 2013. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs goes to Ishaq Dar, who was in Finance under the first Shehbaz government.
He had had difficult relations with the IMF and was considered largely responsible for the deterioration of the economic situation.
As Minister of Finance is Muhammad Aurangzeb, the CEO of one of Pakistan's leading banks and an expert in international finance.
A major subject, the Pakistani economy has been facing a balance of payments crisis for several months, a very high external debt, record inflation and a weak rupee.
Inflation slowed down a little in February 2024, but still stood at 23%, and economic growth should not exceed 2% this year, according to projections from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“
The main challenge facing our nation is inflation
,” Shehbaz Sharif conceded during the first cabinet meeting.
The new interior minister, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, was previously the chief executive of the east-central Punjab province.
In this position, this media mogul considered close to the army, led the repression against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
The new government currently only includes one woman.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the niece of the new Minister of Defense, who obtains a state secretariat.
“
Warrant thieves
”
Independent candidates supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister
Imran Khan
, imprisoned since August 2023, emerged victorious from the elections, despite the repression of the authorities against them.
The PTI denounced massive manipulations, at the initiative of the powerful army, and claimed an even broader victory.
But his refusal of any alliance left the field open to his main rivals, whom he described as “
mandate thieves
”.
Read alsoPakistan: Shehbaz Sharif elected Prime Minister of the country
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