ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 - Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan was elected as Pakistan�s new Prime Minister today after he defeated veteran politician Shahbaz Sharif in a one-sided election in the National Assembly.
The election for the top post became just a formality after the Pakistan People�s Party, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with 54 seats, abstained from voting following a rift over Sharif�s candidature.
Khan, 65, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), secured 176 votes, while his only rival and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Sharif got 96 votes, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser announced.
After the announcement of the result, PML-N lawmakers chanted slogans against Khan and protested in the house.
Khan will take the oath tomorrow as Pakistan�s 22nd Prime Minister.
A total of 172 votes in the 342-member lower house of Parliament are needed to form a government.
The voting was held in open through division of members in different galleries designated for different candidates. The PPP lawmakers remained seated during the voting process. The Jamaat-i-Islami did not take part in the voting. � PTI
