4 takeaways from Shehbaz Sharif's first speech as Pakistan PM

Shehbaz Sharif, president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N, has been elected as the new prime minister of Pakistan. He became the 23rd PM of Pakistan. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over the proceedings of the house after PTI members decided to boycott the election of new PM.

Shehbaz Sharif, with 176 votes in his favour, was unanimously elected as the PM of Pakistan. He was asked to occupy the PM’s chair and address the house.

Here are four highlights from his first speech as PM of Pakistan:

THE NATION IS BLESSED

The first thing Shehbaz Sharif said was that in the history of Pakistan this is the first time that a no-confidence motion was passed. Truth has won, he said. He said that it is a special day for the country. He said the nation is blessed because even Pakistan Rupee jumped eight rupees from Rs 190 to Rs 182 in comparison to the USD. He also thanked the Supreme Court of Pakistan for letting truth prevail.

THE LETTER DRAMA

Shehbaz, wasting no time, spoke on the alleged controversial letter which former PM Imran Khan kept quoting, claiming that there was a foreign conspiracy to oust him. Shehbaz said that this was a drama going on for past one week. “It was a drama, lie and fraud”, he said. He said he has not seen any such letter.

Speaking more on it, Shehbaz said that in the first session of the parliament, he will make sure that in-camera proceedings take place regarding this letter in the presence of all important bureaucrats.

READY TO RESIGN IF CLAIMS FOUND TRUE

Shehbaz said that he, along with his party, demands an impartial discussion on this alleged letter. He further said that if an iota of evidence emerges that points towards an influence from a foreign country, he will resign. “I hold you God and you Speaker sir as witness, that if this happens, I will resign and go back”, he said.

MET PPP CHAIRPERSON IN MARCH

Shehbaz said that he met Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari in March 2022 and discussed about the possibility of a no-confidence motion. He further said that a meeting was called by his brother Nawaz Sharif, and in that meeting, it was decided that they should move ahead with the motion. “And this is how on March 8, 2022, we moved the no-confidence motion,” he said.