Pakistan’s Sharif Faces an Even Tougher Task Second Time Around

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(Bloomberg) — When Shehbaz Sharif first became Pakistan’s prime minister two years ago, he had to persuade a fractious coalition and an angry public to swallow unpopular measures in order to save the nation from default. This time it’s worse.

Shehbaz was named Sunday as the new premier of the world’s fifth-most-populous country after his elder brother and party leader Nawaz unexpectedly passed the baton to him.

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The younger Sharif’s position is daunting. Supporters of his jailed rival Imran Khan won the most seats in the February poll and Sharif only regained power thanks to a shaky coalition. He needs to renew a loan with the International Monetary Fund by April to keep the economy afloat — a task that’s likely to fuel public unrest. And he must placate a powerful military that once exiled him.