1997 Punjab provincial election

Provincial Assembly elections were held in Punjab, Pakistan on 3 February 1997 to elect all 240 members of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, Pakistan along with nationwide general elections and three other provincial elections in Sindh, Balochistan, and North-West Frontier Province. The elections were held as a result of dismissal of Benazir Bhutto's second government by President Farooq Leghari in November 1996. After which, a caretaker government was inducted in Punjab under Mian muhammad Afzal Hayat, a former member of Punjab Assembly, as the Caretaker Chief Minister.

Results
The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) achieved a landslide victory by securing 211 out of 240 seats, leaving their primary competitor, the Pakistan Peoples Party, far behind with just 3 seats at third place while the Independent candidates won 21 seats finishing second.

Aftermath
After the elections, Shehbaz Sharif assumed the role of Chief Minister of Punjab on February 20, 1997. His appointment to this position came about as a result of receiving 226 votes during the assembly vote, which lead to the formation of a supermajority government.