Shehbaz Sharif becomes Pakistan's Prime Minister for a second time
Islamabad(PTI): Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday became the prime minister of Pakistan for a second time to lead a coalition government after he comfortably won a majority in the newly-elected Parliament amidst sloganeering by the Opposition.
Shehbaz, 72, who was the consensus candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), received 201 votes, 32 more than what was required to become leader of the House in the 336-member Parliament.
Shehbaz's challenger Omar Ayub Khan of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 92 votes.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced the results appointing Shehbaz as the 24th prime minister of Pakistan.
Shehbaz will be administered the oath of office on Monday at the Presidential mansion, Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The session of the new parliament convened amid ruckus and sloganeering by PTI-backed lawmakers.
The PTI-backed lawmakers shouted slogans of Azaadi (freedom)' and Qaidi #804', a reference to incarcerated Imran Khan. Some of the PTI-backed lawmakers also held posters of Imran Khan. In response to the pro-Imran slogans, PML-N lawmakers shouted long live Nawaz' and waved wristwatches at the opposition benches referring to the Toshakhana corruption case against Khan.
The PML-N party supremo Nawaz Sharif was the first person who voted for Shehbaz in the race for the election of the prime minister.
Before the vote, the PTI said the graceful thing that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif could have done was to accept defeat.
"..but he chose to live his life in shame. Every day will be worse than the previous one for these Coalition Of Losers, especially Nawaz Sharif & Maryam!" the party said in a post on X.
Shehbaz earlier served as prime minister of a coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.
In the February 8 polls, the Sharifs-led party failed to garner a clear majority, albeit technically, it is the largest party with 75 out of the 265 contested seats.
Besides the PPP, Shehbaz was backed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Balochistan Awami Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Z), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and the National Party.
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BJP MLC CT Ravi accused of using derogatory word against Minister Hebbalkar in Legislative Council
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 19: Karnataka BJP MLC C T Ravi is accused of using a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on Thursday.
While Ravi on his part has denied the allegations as "false", Congress leaders said Hebbalkar has complained to the Legislative Council Chairman on the matter.
According to Congress leaders, Ravi allegedly used the derogatory word several times against Hebbalkar during an altercation between them, after the House was adjourned for some time by Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, following an uproar over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on B R Ambedkar.
Speaking to reporters Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the incident happened after the Chairman adjourned the House, and that he was standing two rows behind Hebbalkar at that time.
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There was a war of words between Hebbalkar and Ravi, and as she made certain comments against him, he used the derogatory word against her, he said, "I initially couldn't believe that an MLC could use such a word and waited for confirmation. He could be heard using that word and walking out. Later Hebbalkar herself came and told a few of us about it, with pain." "We have complained to the Chairman and sought his (Ravi) expulsion. The Chairman has assured action after verifying audio and video," Yathindra, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son, said.
Meanwhile, some of the Hebbalkar's supporters staged a protest against Ravi at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha primisis here and they were whisked away by the police.
Meanwhile, Ravi responding to a question on allegations that he used derogatory words against Hebbalkar, said, "Her allegations are false, let the audio and videos get verified, I will speak after that. I won't say anything now. This is not the right time to answer this question. I'm not someone who will abuse someone personally. I have not abused her, I don't know why she felt that way." "I have not said anything to her....I have not made any personal comments against her, that she is claiming," he added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaking to reporters termed Ravi's reported comments against Hebbalkar as "filthy" and said it amounts to criminal offence.
"He (Ravi) has used a very filthy word to Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is a Minister in my cabinet, and it amounts to criminal offence. She has complained to the Chairman and the police. Police will take action according to the law," he said.
When told that Ravi has denied allegations, the CM said, "everyone is saying that he used the word ten times, I don't know, I was not there in the Council. Council members came and told me Ravi has used a filthy word.
Laxmi Hebbalkar is pained, it is in a way sexual harassment against her."
