Abbasi, Khursheed Shah, Sheikh Rashid file nomination papers for PM election

Opposition Leader in NA Khursheed Shah has submitted his nomination papers on the behalf of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) whereas Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid has also presented his papers referred by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Tariq Cheema.

Pakistam Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) nominated candidate Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) MNA Kishwer Zahra have handed over their nomination papers to Jawad Rafique Malik.

Jamat-e-Islami (JIT) has also nominated its candidate Sahibzada Tariqullah for the post.

Earlier, opposition decided to bring joint candidate for premiership as a key meeting was summoned to choose the name but it could not happen due to PTI chief Imran Khan‘s criticism on PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistan’s parliament will meet on Tuesday to elect an interim prime minister. After the election, the new prime minister will take oath of his office, administered by the president. He will then constitute his cabinet.

The ruling party named Sharif’s younger brother Shahbaz as his successor over the weekend, but he must first enter parliament by contesting the seat left vacant by Sharif.

The top court ousted Sharif Friday after an investigation into corruption allegations against him and his family, bringing his historic third term in power to an unceremonious end and briefly plunging the nuclear-armed nation into political instability.

Nawaz Sharif was the 15th prime minister in Pakistan’s 70-year history -- roughly half of which was under military rule -- to be ousted before completing a full term.

"The nomination papers -- shall be delivered to the Secretary, National Assembly by 2.00 pm, on Monday," said a notification by the National Assembly Secretariat and seen by AFP.