State Department calls “selection” of Maryam Nawaz as chief minister a “milestone” in Pakistani politics
- The United States says it values its long-standing partnership with Pakistan.
- “A prosperous and democratic Pakistan is fundamental to shared interests.”
- Maryam's selection as CM is a milestone for Pakistani politics, says US.
WASHINGTON: The United States welcomed the return of Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister and assured that Washington will work with the new Pakistani government to “promote the shared interests” of the two countries.
“So I'm not going to speak regarding the new prime minister, but as we have said before, we value our long-standing partnership with Pakistan and have always considered a strong, prosperous and democratic Pakistan to be critical to the United States. Pakistan’s interests and our commitment to new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government will continue to focus on advancing these shared interests,” State Department spokesman Mathew Miller said at a press briefing on Monday.
His comments came hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the country's 24th prime minister at the President House in Islamabad.
President Dr Arif Alvi administered oath to the newly elected Prime Minister in a ceremony attended by several dignitaries including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir.
Shehbaz was elected prime minister on Sunday, retaining the title after his 16-month stint in the most coveted position, from April 2022 to August 2023.
This is the second time that Shehbaz will serve the nation as prime minister after receiving 201 votes against his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) opponent Omar Ayub Khan who got 92 votes. in a clouded uproar. session of the lower house of Parliament.
Maryam as CM is a 'milestone' for Pakistani politics
The United States also welcomed the “selection” of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz as the first chief minister, calling it “a milestone in Pakistani politics.”
“So her election as prime minister is a milestone in Pakistani politics. “We look forward to cooperating more broadly with Pakistan to more fully integrate women into the country's political life, into the economy, including through the United States-Pakistan Women's Council, civil society and other decision-making spaces,” said the spokesman.
Miller emphasized that an inclusive Pakistan will create a “strong and prosperous country” that would benefit all Pakistanis and “that is why we are always happy when we see cracks in the glass ceiling anywhere in the world.”
Maryam, who has become the first female chief minister in the history of Pakistan, won the elections after securing 220 votes in the Punjab Assembly last week.
His opponent, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Rana Aftab Ahmad, did not get any votes as the party boycotted the elections after they were prevented from speaking.
Apart from becoming the country's first female chief minister, Maryam also became the fourth member of the Sharif family and the first female member of his family to be elected CM.
The PML-N senior vice president was elected to two seats in Lahore (NA 119 and PP-159) during the February 8 general elections. After the elections, he retired from the National Assembly seat.
In PP-159 constituency, he contested against PTI-backed independent candidate Mehr Sharafat and won by a narrow margin.
Overall, he is the sixth member of the Sharif family to have been elected in general or by-elections.
Before her, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Abbas Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz and Begum Kalsoom Nawaz were elected from Lahore.
