Pakistan: Shehbaz Sharif, Omar Ayub file nomination papers for Prime Minister election

Pakistan: Shehbaz Sharif, the joint candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP), and Omar Ayub, the nominee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council, submitted their nomination papers for the position of Prime Minister of Pakistan, on Saturday, as reported by ARY News. The nomination papers were officially received by the Secretary of the National Assembly.

To secure the role of premier, a candidate must receive a minimum of 169 votes out of the 336-member parliament.

According to reports PML-N and its allies, including the Pakistan People's Party, claim to have the backing of over 200 lawmakers. However, independent candidates supported by Imran Khan's PTI emerged victorious in the February 8 elections, clinching 93 seats.

#Pakistan Election of the Prime Minister, for a five-year term, will be held on Sunday (tomorrow). Shehbaz Sharif, Omar Ayub file nomination papers for PM election pic.twitter.com/4Br4qpHG3B

— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) March 2, 2024

Speaker's election amidst protest

On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was elected as the 22nd speaker of the National Assembly (NA) during Friday's session presided over by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Throughout the session, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) staged protests.

The speaker's election was conducted via a secret ballot, with lawmakers casting their votes individually. PML-N candidate Ayaz Sadiq secured 199 votes, while Aamir Dogar from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) received 91 votes. Following Raja Pervaiz Ashraf's official announcement, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was sworn in as the next speaker of the NA.

Earlier in the week, the National Assembly Secretariat issued the election schedule for the election of the PM. According to the schedule, the prime minister will be elected on Sunday, March 3. The deadline for the submission of nomination papers for the post of prime minister ended on Saturday at 2:00 PM.

What is election procedure for prime minister in Pakistan?

The prime minister will be elected by Members of the National Assembly in accordance with the Second Schedule of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. 

Rule 32 of the National Assembly outlines the process, stating that "the Assembly shall, to the exclusion of many other business, proceed to elect without debate one of its Muslim members to be the Prime Minister" after the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker following a general election or whenever the office of the Prime Minister falls vacant for any reason.