Imran Khan sworn-in as new Pakistani PM

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan was sworn-in on Saturday as Pakistan's 22nd Prime Minister, three weeks after his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the highest number of seats in the July 25 general election.

Khan, who outvoted opposition and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Shahbaz Sharif in the Prime Minister's election on Friday, was administered his oath by President Mamnoon Hussain at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (President House) here, reports Dawn news.

After taking his oath, Khan and his wife, Bushra Imran, greeted various guests.

Khan then proceeded to the Prime Minister's Office, where he was presented a Guard of Honour.

The oath-taking ceremony commenced at 10.10 a.m., with the national anthem followed by recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.

High-profile guests including outgpomg caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi were in attendence.

Other notable guests present include former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, cricketer-turned-commentator Rameez Raja, legendary paceman Wasim Akram, newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, singers Salman Ahmed and Abrarul Haq, actor Javaid Sheikh, former National Assembly speaker Fehmida Mirza and senior PTI leaders.

On Friday, the National Assembly (NA) elected Khan as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, more than two decades after the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team entered politics, reports Geo News.

Of the total NA members, 176 voted in favour of the PTI chairperson, while his opponent, Shahbaz Sharif, received 96 votes.

--IANS

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