Pakistan’s new government faces tough fight to endure

Significance

Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), was elected premier by members of the National Assembly (NA), parliament’s lower house, on April 11. He replaces Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan, who was defeated in a no-confidence vote in the NA in the early hours of April 10. Khan’s supporters continue to protest his ouster.

Impacts

• Islamabad will struggle to maintain good ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban government.
• The security risk posed by the Pakistani Taliban Movement will remain elevated.
• Press freedom, already at a low level, will deteriorate.