Shahbaz Sharif takes oath as Punjab CM

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Font size: NewsByte 08 June, 2008 03:24:30
BY SHAFQAT ALI

Islamabad

June 8: Mr Shahbaz Sharif took oath as the 21st chief minister of
Punjab in a ceremony held at governor’s house in Lahore on Sunday.

He was administered the oath by Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer. It
will be the second term for Shahbaz Sharif as Punjab chief minister.

Mr Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Pakistan Muslim League
(Nawaz) chief Nawaz Sharif, served as Punjab chief minister from
February 20, 1997 to October 12, 1999.

He is considered a good administrator and political analysts believe
that he is likely to come up to the expectations of the masses.

He is also a strong political opponent of President Musharraf and in
his opening speech in the Punjab Assembly, he vowed to show him the
door for "playing with national wealth and resources".

Mr Sharif’s PML(N), along with the PPP, is also considering to impeach
President Musharraf through a majority vote in the Parliament.

Both the Sharif brothers had been sent into exile in 1999 by President
Musharraf when he sacked the elected government at the Centre as well
as Punjab to seize power. They were allowed to return before the
February 18 elections but barred from contesting them.

However, an election tribunal cleared Mr Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination
for the June 26 byelection and he was elected unopposed to a Punjab
Assembly seat.

He was subsequently chosen as chief minister to replace his party’s
Dost Mohammed Khosa who resigned in his favour.

Addressing the assembly after his election, Mr Shahbaz said the people
were unwilling to accept President Musharraf's continuance as
President because of his repressive actions.

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