Pakistani lawmakers elect Imran Khan as new Prime Minister

Iconic cricket legend Imran Khan has been elected by Lawmakers in Pakistan’s lower house of parliament as the country’s new prime minister today, thus opening the way for him to form a coalition government and to become Pakistan’s next Prime Minister.

Imran Khan on today defeated opposition rival Shahbaz Sharif in a one-sided contest to become Pakistan's next prime minister following the grand opposition alliance came apart over the PML-N chief's nomination for the top post.

According to Asad Qaiser, the speaker of the parliament Imran Khan received 176 votes in the 342-seat National Assembly. On the other hand rival candidate, Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), garnered 96 votes.

A total of 172 votes out of the 342-member lower house of Parliament are needed to form a government.

Although Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) won with a majority in July 25 election the party will still need support from independents and smaller parties as it does not have enough seats in parliament to form a majority government. Imran Khan’s only challenger could be Shahbaz Sharif, but his Pakistan Muslim League party suffered a major blow when they won only 92 seats in last month’s elections.

Imran Khan prepares to be sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan on Saturday for a mandate lasting five years.

The 65-year-old once first bowler and Pakistan cricket team’s captain contested was defeated in the 2013 elections. He founded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party in 1996, and he has an immense public support and sees him as a savior to crack down corruption from the system of Pakistan’s governance.