Politics
20:42, 17-Aug-2018
Imran Khan elected as Pakistan's new prime minister
Updated
20:20, 20-Aug-2018
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Pakistan's National Assembly, or lower house of the parliament, on Friday afternoon elected Imran Khan as the country's new prime minister.
The speaker of the National Assembly announced that Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or Justice Movement party, won the election by securing 176 votes against 96 votes for his opponent Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Last month, the cricket star turned politician claimed victory in the country's tense elections.
"We were successful and we were given a mandate," Khan, 65, said during a live broadcast, adding there was "no politician victimization" in the contest.
In 1992, Khan led Pakistan to cricketing glory in the World Cup at the age of 39, after over two decades as one of the world's premier all-rounders.
Four years later, he founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and after more than 20 years of gradual electoral progress, the party won the most seats in the 2018 elections, which put Khan on track to be the new prime minister.