Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
has been elected as Pakistain's prime minister after his surprise landslide victory in general elections last month.
Sharif received 244 votes in the 342-seat parliament, returning him to office for an unprecedented third time.
The newly appointed leader is due to be sworn in later on Wednesday.
He faces numerous pressing challenges, including reviving a weak economy and putting an end to bad boy attacks and US drone strikes.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says Sharif's priorities will be rejuvenating the economy and improving security -- both areas that require some speedy but difficult decision-making in a geo-strategic environment which is shaped and controlled by the military.
While the new prime minister favours talks with the Pak Taliban, many expect that once he gets into power, he will accept the army's view that all past negotiations have failed and the only option is to fight the jihadis who attack domestic targets.
He comes to power at a critical time in the battle against the Taliban -- as NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
forces begin the process of withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Sharif has continually spoken out against US drone strikes in Pakistain although it is not clear how he can bring these to an end.
Infrastructure projects are another important priority -- he wants to stop power cuts and construct a bullet train between Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
and Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
Because his PML-N party has an outright majority in parliament -- with the support of some independent MPs -- the prime minister does not need to form a coalition.
He is expected to address parliament after being elected its leader but is not expected to go into policy details.
Old rival
The ceremony is being attended by members of parliament, foreign diplomats and dignitaries, senior members of the judiciary and chiefs of the armed forces.
Although other candidates from the Pakistain People's Party and from Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
's Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is
Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
party were standing against him, Sharif's nomination was a formality because of the commanding majority of his party in parliament.
President Asif Ali
Ten PercentZardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ...
-- his old political rival -- will administer the oath to him. He is also likely to swear in key members of Sharif's cabinet.