Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

On 1 August 2017, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan by the National Assembly, defeating his rival Naveed Qamar of the PPP by 221 votes to 47. Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement also supported his election. Addressing the National Assembly after his election, he said, “I may be here for 45 days or 45 hours, but I’m not here to keep the seat warm. I intend to work and get some important things done.”

On that same day, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was sworn in as the Prime Minister in an oath-taking ceremony at the Presidency Palace. After he took charge, Nawaz Sharif decided that Shehbaz Sharif would remain in Punjab and Abbasi would continue as Prime Minister until the June 2018 general election. According to Rana Sanaullah Khan, PML-N senior leadership feared that if Shahbaz Sharif left the post of Chief Ministership of Punjab it would weaken the party’s hold in the country’s most populous province, which has 183 out of the 342 seats in the National Assembly and plays a crucial role in determining the successive government in Pakistan.

After assuming the office as the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in consultation with Sharif, formed a 43-member cabinet. Of the 43 ministers sworn in on 4 August 2017, 27 were federal ministers and 16 were ministers of state. Except Nisar Ali Khan, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi retained the entire cabinet of his predecessor Nawaz Sharif, most of whom retained their previous portfolios. Nisar Ali Khan who was Minister for Interior in the previous cabinet refused to join the cabinet of Abbasi, citing differences with the leaders of PML-N.

The cabinet was criticised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for its large size, but it was praised by The Nation. Reuters said that the cabinet “appears aimed at bolstering support” ahead of the general election. The second part of his cabinet, consisting of two federal ministers and two ministers of state, was sworn in on 10 August 2017, increasing the size of the cabinet to 47. On 13 August 2017, the cabinet was further expanded after Abbasi appointed six advisers. On the following day, five special assistants to the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were appointed, thus increasing the cabinet size to 58. Abbasi justified the large size of his cabinet by saying that “he had limited experience of running the affairs of the government, and therefore required more ministers, advisers and special assistants.” Two more advisors were added to the federal cabinet on 23 August 2017.