Page 6 - aruba-today-20220412

A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 12 april 2022
Sharif sworn in as Pakistan's new PM after week of drama

By KATHY GANNON minister who was killed in
Associated Press 2007.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Paki- A few wealthy and pow-
stan's parliament on Mon- erful families have domi-
day elected opposition nated Pakistan's politics for
lawmaker Shahbaz Sharif decades, with power most
as the new prime minister, often alternating between
following a week of politi- the Sharif and the Bhutto
cal turmoil that led to the camps. Both political hous-
weekend ouster of Premier es have been accused of
Imran Khan. and at times convicted
Sharif took the oath of of- of widespread corruption.
fice inside the stately, white They have dismissed the
marble palace known as allegations as being politi-
the Presidency in a brief cally motivated.
ceremony. Nawaz Sharif was unseated
But his elevation won't guar- by the Supreme Court in
antee a peaceful path for- 2015 after being convicted
ward or solve the country's of financial irregularities
many economic problems, revealed in the so-called
including high inflation and Panama Papers — a col-
a soaring energy crisis. lection of leaked secret
Sharif, the brother of dis- financial documents show-
graced former Prime Minis- ing how some of the world's
ter Nawaz Sharif, won with richest hide their money
174 votes after more than and involving a global law
100 lawmakers from Khan's firm based in Panama. He
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or was disqualified from hold-
Pakistan Justice Party, re- ing office by the Supreme
signed and walked out of Court.
the National Assembly in Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's hus-
protest. In this photo released by National Assembly of Pakistan, newly elected Pakistani Prime Minister band who served as presi-
Shahbaz Sharif addresses a National Assembly session, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 11,
Those 174 votes — two 2022. dent of Pakistan after the
more than the required sim- Associated Press 2008 election, has spent
ple majority — are enough more than seven years in
to pass laws in the 342-seat uncertainty ahead, Khan Pakistan, accusing Wash- that no matter how the prison, convicted on cor-
assembly. If Khan's follow- rallied hundreds of thou- ington of conspiring with his political situation changes ruption charges.
ers take to the streets, as he sands of supporters in pro- opponents to topple him. in Pakistan, China will un- Khan came to power in
has vowed, it could create tests Sunday night, describ- That conspiracy theory swervingly adhere to its 2018, promising to break
more pressure on lawmak- ing the new leadership as resonates with his youthful friendly policy toward Paki- the pattern of family rule
ers and deepen the crisis. an "imposed government" base, which often sees the stan." in Pakistan, but his oppo-
Khan, a former cricket star that colluded with the U.S. U.S. war on terrorism after China is heavily invested in nents said he was elected
whose conservative Islamist to oust him. His backers 9/11 as unfairly targeting Pakistan in its multibillion- with help from the power-
ideology and dogged in- marched in cities across Pakistan. dollar global initiative to ful military, which has ruled
dependence character- Pakistan, waving large Khan claims Washington link south and central Asia the country for half of its 75-
ized his three years and party flags and shouted opposes him because of to Beijing. year history.
eight months in office, was slogans promising to return his independent foreign Pakistan's longtime rival In- Nawaz Sharif was also
ousted early Sunday. He him to power. The crowds policy favoring China and dia also sent congratula- ousted in 1999, in a military
lost a no-confidence vote were dominated by youths Russia. He was criticized for tions to Sharif, with Indian coup, and Benazir Bhutto's
after being deserted by his who make up the back- a visit he made on Feb. 24 Prime Minister Narendra government was ousted
party allies and a key coali- bone of Khan's supporters. to Moscow, where he met Modi saying his country several times after the mili-
tion partner. The political drama began with President Vladimir Pu- "desires peace and stabil- tary sided with her opposi-
In a show of strength and April 3 when Khan side- tin as Russian tanks rolled ity." tion. In Pakistani politics,
a precursor to the political stepped an initial no-confi- into Ukraine. The two countries have where loyalties are often
ARUBA dence vote demanded by The U.S. State Department fought three wars, com- Sharif's party.
fluid, Bhutto's fiercest op-
ing dangerously close to a position often came from
the opposition by dissolv-
has denied any involve-
ing parliament and calling ment in Pakistan's internal fourth over the disputed Hi-
CLEAN early elections. The opposi- politics. malayan region of Kashmir, Shahbaz Sharif has served
tion, which accuses Khan China, which is Pakistan's which is divided between three times as chief minister
of economic mismanage- key ally and investor, said the two and claimed by of Pakistan's largest, most
ment, appealed to the Monday it would support both. influential Punjab province,
Supreme Court. After four any government. The opposition coalition home to 60% of the coun-
days of deliberations, the "As Pakistan's close neigh- consists of parties that cross try's 220 million people. His
court said Khan's move bor and iron-clad friend, the political divide, from son, Hamza, was elected
was illegal and the no-con- we sincerely hope that all the left to the radically re- last week as the new chief
fidence vote went ahead, factions in Pakistan will re- ligious. The two largest par- minister by the Punjab pro-
leading to his ouster. main united and work to- ties are the Pakistan Muslim vincial parliament, ousting
Khan has demanded early gether for national stability League, headed by Sharif, Khan's nominee. Khan's
elections — the balloting and development," Foreign and the Pakistan People's party is challenging that
IS MORE is not due before August Ministry spokesperson Zhao Party, co-chaired by the election, and the younger
DUSHI 2023. He has tapped into Lijian said at a briefing. "I son and husband of Bena- Sharif has yet to be sworn

anti-American sentiment in would like to emphasize zir Bhutto, the former prime in.q