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Pakistan’s parliament has backed Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister for the second time, as the country’s dynastic political parties join forces to form a new government amid angry protests from supporters of former premier Imran Khan.
In a vote of confidence on Sunday, a coalition led by Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz secured 201 votes in the 336-seat parliament. Omar Ayub Khan secured 92 votes for the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a minority party backed by Khan’s loyalists.
Speaking in parliament after the vote, Sharif promised “a new journey to lift up Pakistan. We will build a strong economy for the future of our country”. His remarks were repeatedly interrupted by opposition members shouting “our votes have been stolen, our mandate has been stolen”.
Sharif was prime minister until the parliament was dissolved in August in the run-up to February elections.
Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), was effectively banned from participation in the election. The success of the jailed Khan in that poll — with independent candidates loyal to Khan winning more than 90 seats — stunned many who had expected a military led crackdown to snuff out support for the populist politician. Candidates linked to Khan have refused to form a coalition government and say the election was rigged.
Sharif, his immediate successor Anwarul Haq Kakar and the army have all faced criticism for the crackdown on the PTI, with many PTI members saying they came under pressure to leave the party or face investigation.
Sharif inherits a deeply troubled economy. Islamabad narrowly averted default last year with the help of an emergency IMF lending agreement. That programme is due to expire in April, meaning the country’s new rulers need to return to the fund for more support.
“This will be a test of leadership for Shehbaz Sharif,” said Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US and the UN. “The government will have to deal with Pakistan’s formidable economic challenge and take tough measures which will be politically painful.”
Analysts warn that a failure to quickly rebuild confidence in the economy through another IMF programme will revive fears of default.
“It’s a weak coalition government and their ability to deal with the IMF remains in doubt,” said Sakib Sherani, head of research firm Macroeconomic Insights in Islamabad. “The main risk comes from the formation of a new government clouded by controversies surrounding the elections.”
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