Shahbaz Sharif

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), the ruling party in Pakistan has nominated Shahbaz Sharif as new Prime Minister of the country. He will replace his brother Nawaz Sharif who stepped down from the portfolio of prime minister on Friday after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in corruption case.

The Supreme Court ruled that Nawaz Sharif had been dishonest to the parliament and the courts for not disclosing his employment in the Dubai-Based company in his 2013 nomination papers, and thus, could not be deemed fit for the prime minister office.

Ruling PML-N leaders, in a parliamentary committee meeting headed by ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, decided that Nawaz's younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, should take over as the leader of the house in parliament.

Additionally, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was federal minister for petroleum and natural resources, will take over as interim prime minister on Monday till the time Shahbaz is elected to parliament, and then to the prime minister’s office.

Shahbaz Sharif, who is currently holding the portfolio of chief minister of Punjab province, will resign and will contest the election from the seat vacated after the disqualification of his brother and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

During his four year tenure, ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif further strengthened Pakistan’s relationships with China. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, was also initiated during his tenure.

Like Nawaz Sarif, his brother Shahbaz Sharif has also good relationships with China. As chief minister of Punjab Province, he visited China several time during last few years and also invited Chinese companies for investing in Pakistan. He also participated in the Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing in May this year. During his tenure, several Chinese companies have invested in Punjab province. Few days ago Punjab government also invited Chinese companies for investment in solid waste management sector in the province.

Political experts in Pakistan say that because of Shahbaz Sharif becoming new prime minister of the country, work on CPEC will continue at the current pace. Shahbaz Sharif has very friendly attitude towards China and the projects being carried out in Pakistan under CPEC will not be effected because of political change in the country.

The younger Sharif spoke highly of the Pakistan-China friendship and the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative in an Op-Ed titled "Towards a Stable Global Order" for People's Daily Online. In a separeate piece for People's Daily, Sharif called China's achievements under the leadership of CPC a miracle.