Islamabad, Aug 18(Zee News): Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is set to take oath as Pakistan's 22nd Prime Minister on Saturday, a day after he defeated Shahbaz Sharif in a one-sided contest in the National Assembly.
Khan will be sworn-in at a simple ceremony at the President House in Islamabad.
Khan, 65, secured 176 votes out of the total 272 cast in polling in the lower house, while his opponent Shahbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) got 96 votes, according to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.
The Pakistan People`s Party (PPP), the third largest party in the house that joined the PML-N and others in an opposition alliance, withdrew its support for Shahbaz Sharif`s candidature as Premier days before the election and abstained from voting, Dawn online reported.
One member of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), which contested elections under the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) banner, also abstained from voting for either candidate.
This came nearly three weeks after Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the highest number of seats in the general election.
After his election as Pakistan's next PM, Khan pledged to bring to justice "all those who have robbed this country" through corruption.
Parliament's move cleared the way for the 65-year-old Khan to set up a coalition government and his first major task will be to avert a brewing economic crisis after his party swept to election victory on July 25.
Khan's party won power on an anti-status quo platform, vowing to fight corruption and lift millions of people out of poverty.
Pakistan has been plagued by boom-and-bust cycles and military coups since independence in 1947, as well as by Islamist militant violence in more recent years.
Khan, a firebrand nationalist, has promised to create millions of jobs and build world-class hospitals and school systems in the mainly-Muslim country of 208 million people.
Among his first challenges will be to decide whether to request an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to ease currency pressures, or seek support from China and risk deepening Pakistan's economic dependence on its neighbour.
"I want to thank the people and I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to bring change," Khan, wearing a black waistcoat over traditional white shalwar kameez robes, said in a combative speech in Parliament.
"First of all we have to do strict accountability," Khan added. "Those who have robbed this country, I will hold each and every one of you accountable."
In a sign of Pakistan's bitter political divisions, Opposition lawmakers surrounded Khan and disrupted his speech throughout by shouting "thief, thief Imran Khan" and "puppet".
Khan`s election was only the second democratic transfer of power since Pakistan's 1947 independence and came at a time when relations with on-off ally the United States are fraying over alleged Pakistani support for militants waging war in Afghanistan. Islamabad denies aiding insurgents.
Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party holds 151 of the 342 seats in the lower chamber of parliament, short of a majority, but is expected to form a coalition government with smaller parties.
In Friday's lower house vote, Khan garnered 176 votes to defeat Shahbaz Sharif from the outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, who won 96 votes. Khan, who will be sworn in on Saturday, has yet to announce his cabinet.