Pakistan’s newly formed parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday as prime minister for a second time, Geo TV reported, three weeks after uncertain national elections caused delays in the formation of a coalition government.
Voters in Pakistan went to the polls on Feb 8 in an election marred by a mobile internet shutdown, arrests and violence in its build-up and unusually delayed results, leading to accusations that the vote was rigged.
Sharif returned to the role he held until August when parliament was dissolved ahead of the elections and a caretaker government took over.
The vote in parliament, which first met on Thursday, took place amidst tight security as candidates backed by former jailed premier Imran Khan have protested against the result and called for his release.
The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party backed by Khan alleges that the national election was rigged against them and has called for an audit of the polls. No single party won a majority.
