After Sharif, who could be next Pak PM? Brother, ally among probables

RUBBERSTAMP SUCCESSOR Nawaz is the head of the ruling PMLN party and can choose his replacement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ousted from the top office by the Supreme Court but as the head of the ruling PML-N party, he will be able to nominate his successor.

As such, Sharif will oversee the nomination of his successor who will then be rubber stamped in a parliamentary vote, where his party and coalition partners command a 209-seat majority in the 342-seat House.

Media reports on Friday night said Sharif had told his aides he wants to see his younger brother Sh eh baz as the next prime minister.

Shehbaz is currently a member of the provincial assembly of Punjab and will have to be elected to the National Assembly in order to become premier.

Till his election, another PML-N leader is expected to serve as interim prime minister.

Sharif’s daughter Maryam N aw az is often touted as his political heir, but she does not hold elected office and so cannot be a candidate.

The vote for the interim premier is expected to happen in a matter of days .

SHEHBAZ SHARIF

He is currently chief minister of the powerful Punjab province-the Sharif family’s stronghold.

He would have to step down from that role to be elected to the National Assembly.

Here are likely candidates for interim prime minister:

SHAHID KHAQAN ABBASI

A leading business man, he is currently the petroleum minister. He was educated in the US and has worked in the Saudi oil industry. Heal so owns the low-cost carrier airblue.

KHA WAJA ASIF

The defence minister is one of the most trusted allies of Sharif but is seen tobe openly confrontation al with the powerful army.

The former banker has held a series of key positions within the PML-N since 1991.

Commentators say his hardline stance against the army has created problems for Sharif and this could work against him.

SARDAR AY AZ SADIQ

The speaker of the National Assembly is another strong candidate for next prime minister and the low-key politician is said to have the ear of the ruling Sharif family.

Sadiq gained Sharif’s trust after he defeated the PML-N leader’s main rival, cricketerturned-politician and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chairman Imran Khan in a hotly contested race for a Lahore seat in the 2013 general election.