World

Sharif brother lined up for Pakistan PM

July 29, 2017 6:43 pm

The brother of ousted Pakistani leader Nawaz Sharif has been lined up to take over as prime minister.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) anointed Shahbaz Sharif but he will first have to be elected to the National Assembly.

Former petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will serve as interim PM.

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Nawaz Sharif stepped down on Friday following a decision by the Supreme Court to disqualify him from office over corruption allegations.

The ruling came after an investigation into his family’s wealth following the leak of the Panama Papers in 2015, which linked Mr Sharif’s children to offshore companies.

If Shahbaz Sharif, 65, is to take over, he must quit as governor of Punjab province and then win a by-election into parliament, which should take 45 days.