"Shehbaz Sharif Re-elected as Pakistan's Prime Minister Amid Controversy"

Shehbaz Sharif has been elected as Pakistan's prime minister for a second term, defeating a rival supported by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, following an inconclusive general election marred by allegations of intimidation and vote-rigging. With no clear parliamentary majority, Sharif emphasized the need for like-minded parties to form a coalition government. His victory comes after the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) reached a coalition deal, ousting Imran Khan as prime minister in 2022. Imran Khan, facing multiple criminal and civil charges, was jailed before the election and barred from standing, with his party's candidates forced to run as independents.