Daily Times

Donald Trump was elected as the 47th US president on Wednesday, marking a notable comeback four years after his exit from the White House and signaling a shift in American leadership that may challenge democratic institutions domestically and affect global relations.

Following Trump’s victory speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended congratulations on his return to office after his win over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the premier congratulated Trump on his “historic victory for a second term,” expressing his eagerness to collaborate closely with the incoming administration to strengthen the Pakistan-US partnership.

Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PTI lawmaker, also congratulated Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, expressing hope for improved relations between Pakistan and the US. In a post on X, Ayub shared optimism that the new team would enhance people-to-people connections.

The PTI echoed these sentiments on its official X account, congratulating the Republican candidate and emphasizing the “respect for the public mandate” shown in the US elections—a contrast, they noted, to the alleged undermining of democratic choice in Pakistan.

The PTI’s well-wishes come amid ongoing legal issues for its founder Imran Khan, who remains imprisoned over a year on multiple charges. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif previously claimed that PTI had sought international intervention to secure Khan’s release and relocation abroad. Imran, as prime minister, maintained positive relations with the Trump administration, and PTI sees Trump’s return as potentially beneficial.

In addition, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari congratulated Trump and his team, calling the win an “anti-war” mandate and expressing hope that the new administration would focus on peace and help reduce global conflicts.