ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif is set tobecome the leader of the opposition in the country’s 15th National Assemblyas scores of lawmakers have endorsed him for the post.

As many as 111 legislators have nominated Shehbaz Sharif for the slot andSpeaker Asad Qaiser told the house on Friday that he had received MrSharif’s nomination for the said post.

According to the numbers game, Shehbaz Sharif would be the oppositionleader, however, a formal notification in this regard will be issued onMonday.

Earlier, on Friday, Imran Khan was elected as the premier of the countrywith 176 votes against the younger Sharif who bagged 96.

The Pakistan Peoples Party had abstained from voting for Shahbaz Sharif forthe office of prime minister, however, it appeared that some PPP lawmakershad also recommended Mr Sharif as the opposition leader.

The total strength of the PML-N in the house is 82 followed by PakistanPeoples Party with 43 MNAs, the Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal (15) and the AwamiNational Party (one).

The collective number of the three opposition parties is 98 but the figureof 111 indicates that some PPP members also supported Shehbaz’ candidaturefor the slot of the leader of the opposition. He will be replacing PPP’sKhursheed Shah, who also sits on the opposition benches.