Shahid Khaqan Abbasi becomes 18th Pakistani prime minister
After Nawaz Sharif's resignation, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been elected Pakistan's 18th prime minister. Three days ago, the SC had disqualified Sharif from holding office. Since then, several names had been rumored as possible candidates, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Nawaz's brother Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan. Abbasi will vacate office after after Shehbaz is elected to the National Assembly.
Who is Shahid Khaqan Abbasi?
PML-N leader Abbasi was born on December 27, 1958 in Karachi. He has a degree in electrical engineering from the George Washington University. Earlier, he has worked in the US and Saudi Arabia. He entered politics when his father, then Minister of Production Khaqan Abbasi, died. Since winning as an independent in 1988, he has climbed up the ranks fast.
Abbasi's ministerial positions
During Nawaz Sharif's second term (1997-99), Abbasi served as the chairman of Pakistan International Airlines. Under Yousuf Raza Gilani's tenure, he was minister of commerce for two months. During Sharif's last term, Abbasi was the minister for petroleum and natural resources.
The new interim chief is also not free from controversies
Abbasi has his own share of controversies. Currently he is facing a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry over corruption worth PKR 220bn. The case pertains to rewarding of an LNG import contract. According to NAB, it was awarded to Elengy Terminal in violation of norms. But considering the 2015 case is still pending inquiry, it seems the NAB has dropped it, like many others.
