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Pakistan on Sunday elected Shehbaz Sharif as the country\u2019s new prime minister, weeks after national elections that were marred by allegations of rigging and manipulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will change the fate of Pakistan,\u201d Sharif said in his victory speech, amid protests by supporters of jailed leader Imran Khan<\/a><\/span><\/span> against his appointment.<\/p>\n Lawmakers from Khan\u2019s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) were carrying portraits of the jailed leader and shouted \u201cvote thief\u201d during Sharif\u2019s speech.<\/p>\n He asked the protesting opposition leaders for input on the economy and reconciliation and said, \u201clet\u2019s face the challenges [the nation faces] together.\u201d<\/p>\n Pakistan’s new leader faces a series of daunting challenges from fixing the faltering economy to balancing relations with the nation’s long-term ally the US as well as its emerging partner China.<\/p>\n In his speech, Sharif touched on these major issues and outlined his plans to address them.<\/p>\n He also spoke about equal rights and opportunities for women, climate change, trade and investment, terrorism and foreign relations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not part of any great game,\u201d Sharif said of his foreign policy plans that include visa-free entry for friendly countries.<\/p>\n Sharif, a joint candidate put forward by at least six political parties, thanked his allies for their support.<\/p>\n Sharif secured 201 votes, compared to his opponent who was backed by Kahn\u2019s PTI and received 92 votes, in the 336-member National Assembly.<\/p>\n The PTI alleges that the results were manipulated, depriving the party of its share of seats.<\/p>\n