Imran Khan elected new Pakistan PM, defeats rival Shahbaz Sharif

Islamabad, Aug 17: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan has been elected the 22nd prime minister of Pakista, Dawn News reported.

Dawn News reported that Khan won with 176 seats while his opponent, PML-N's Shahbaz Sharif, secured 96 votes in the polling that took place in the National Assembly on Friday.

The election in the 15th National Assembly became just a formality after the Pakistan Peoples Party led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with 54 seats abstained from voting.

Khan, 65, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), secured 176 votes while his only rival and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Sharif got 96 votes.

Khan will take the oath tomorrow. A total of 172 votes in the 342-member lower house of Parliament are needed to form a government.