Pakistani lawmakers have endorsed Imran Khan as their next prime minister, ahead of a ceremony on Saturday that should see the World Cup cricket hero sworn in as the new leader of the nuclear-armed nation.
Pakistani parliamentarians on Friday Imran Khan prime minister, paving the way for him to form a coalition government whose first major task will be to avert a brewing economic crisis.
Mr Khan, 65, saw his party sweep to victory in a July 25 general election promising to fight corruption and lift millions of people out of poverty.
“Imran Khan has secured 176 votes,” National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said after the vote, broadcast live from the lower house of parliament.
Khan needed a simple majority of 172 to take power. His only rival, Shahbaz Sharif of the ousted Pakistan Muslim League, won 96 votes, Qaiser said.
Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party holds 151 seats in the 342-seat lower chamber of parliament, short of a majority, but is expected to form a coalition government with smaller parties.
Mr Khan, who will be sworn in on Saturday, has yet to announce his cabinet.
