Imran Khan 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday elected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan as the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan,over two decades later since the former cricketer turned politician  entered politics.

Former cricket captain Khan whose party (PTI) swept the July 25 general election and commands the loyalty of a majority of lawmakers in the National Assembly, will probably take oath of office on Friday.

176 lawmakers in the lower house of parliament voted in favour of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)leader while his opponent, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and former Punjab Chief Minster Shehbaz Sharif , received 96 votes.

However,amid the hype Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the third largest party in the National Assembly  that joined the PML-N amongst others in an opposition alliance, withdrew its support for Sharif's candidacy as prime minister, a day before the election and abstained from voting. Amid the alliance one member of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), who contested elections under the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) flag, also abstained from voting for either of the two  candidates.