Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is scheduled to be sworn in as Pakistan's new prime minister at 9.30am (local time) on Saturday.
Khan will be sworn in by Pakistan president Mamnoon Hussain at the President House in Islamabad. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf became the single-largest party in the National Assembly elections conducted on July 25 for 272 seats. Khan's party won 116 seats, short of a majority by 21 seats, and stitched together an alliance with smaller parties.
On Friday, Khan was elected as prime minister by the National Assembly in a one-sided contest. Khan won a total of 176 votes in Friday's election in the 342-member National Assembly.
He easily defeated his nearest opponent, Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the PML-N, the largest opposition party; Sharif secured 96 votes. Interestingly, the opposition “alliance” suffered a major blow when the Pakistan's People's Party of Bilawal Bhutto, with 54 MNAs, abstained from Friday's votes.
The PML-N and PPP have accused the Pakistan Army of aiding Khan in the election campaign and counting process.