Sharif sworn in as Pakistan’s new PM after week of drama

By KATHY GANNON
Associated Press

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s parliament has elected opposition lawmaker Shahbaz Sharif as the new prime minister, following a week of political turmoil that led to the weekend ouster of Premier Imran Khan. He was sworn in at the white marble palace known as the Presidency. But his elevation won’t guarantee a peaceful path forward or solve Pakistan’s many economic problems, including high inflation and an energy crisis. Sharif, the brother of disgraced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, won with 174 votes after more than 100 lawmakers from Khan’s party walked out of the National Assembly in protest. Those 174 votes are enough to pass laws in the 342-seat assembly, but if Khan’s followers take to the streets, it could deepen the crisis.