Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who held the portfolio of Petroleum and Natural Resources, has been made the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced on Saturday. He will hold the post for 45 days.
The ruling party of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met on Saturday to choose the next prime minister, a day after Pakistan’s Supreme Court removed Mr. Sharif the Premier from office after finding that he and his family concealed their assets, officials said.
Who is Shahid Khaqan Abbasi?ADVERTISEMENT
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Mr. Abbasi was was the chairman of Pakistan International Airlines from 1997 to 1999, when General Musharraf overthrew Mr. Sharif's government. He was arrested and remained in jail for two years. He was acquitted by the court in 2001.
He was also the CEO of private airline Air Blue.
Mr. Abbasi, who has a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University in Washington DC, has been elected Member of the National Assembly in six elections since 1988.
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The election process
Mr. Abbasi will need to get a vote of confidence from the National Assembly before he is sworn in. A formal announcement is expected to be made soon.
The PML-N also decided to rally behind Mr. Nawaz Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, as his eventual successor, reported Dawn .
Mr. Shahbaz Sharif will be sworn in after 45 days of Mr. Abbasi being the interim Prime Minister. He will fight the election from National Assembly seat NA-120. The Election Commission will issue the election date next week.
NA-120 is the constituency in Mr. Sharif's stronghold in Lahore, capital of Punjab province. Mr. Sharif was elected from the seat in the 2013 elections.