President Alvi consents to administer oath to new prime minister

• MNAs to elect new prime minister tomorrow.
• PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif top contender.
• In 2022, Alvi refused to administer oath to Shehbaz.

ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi has consented to administering the oath to the new prime minister — in a major shift from his previous stance when he refused to fulfil his legal obligation in April 2022, The News reported Saturday, citing highly placed sources.

Back then, Alvi had declined to administer the oath to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif when he became the prime minister unopposed after the ouster of Imran Khan through the vote of no trust.

He refused to administer the oath on the pretext of health issues. 

However, this time around, Arif Alvi is ready to do the job, which could be his last major assignment before the presidential election.

The election for the prime minister is scheduled for March 3 (Sunday) for which PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif is the favourite to win as the seven-party alliance has nearly 200 members in the house of 336 while a candidate needs 169 votes to become prime minister. 

On the other hand, Shehbaz's rival, Sunni Ittehad Council's (SIC) Omar Ayub, has the support of over 90 lawmakers.  

Following his highly likely victory, Shehbaz would be the 24th prime minister of the country after his swearing-in.

The prime minister's oath-taking ceremony will take place on Monday 2pm at the President's House.

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan chief minister and four provincial governors will also be present on the occasion.