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Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan took oath as Pakistan’s 22nd Prime Minister on Saturday, 18 August, at the President’s House in Islamabad.
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Marking an end to the speculations, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday, 10 August declared that its Chairman, Imran Khan would take oath as the country’s 21st Prime Minister on Saturday,18 August.
This development was confirmed by PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry who told Dawn:
The PTI claims to have secured a simple majority in the NA by having the support of 180 MNAs.
(With inputs from Dawn)
Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday, 17 August, arrived in Pakistan to attend the oath-taking ceremony of his cricketer friend Imran Khan. The cricketer-turned-politician will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 18 August.
"I have come to Pakistan on my friend's [Imran] invitation. These are very special moments," Sidhu was quoted as saying by Geo TV.
"Hindustan jeevey, Pakistan jeevey!" he chanted.
Wearing a blue suit and a pink turban, Sidhu arrived in Lahore via the Wagah border from where he will travel to Islamabad.
He said he has brought "a message of love" to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador of India.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on Friday, 17 August defeated Shahbaz Sharif in a one-sided contest to become Pakistan's next prime minister after the grand opposition alliance fell apart over the PML-N chief's nomination for the top post, PTI reported.
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.
A total of 172 votes in the 342-member lower house of Parliament are needed to form a government.
Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, former Pakistan cricketers Rameez Raja and Wasim Akram, newly elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, singers Salman Ahmed and Pakistani actor Javaid Sheikh arrived for the ceremony.
Former Indian cricketer and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu was also present.
Navjot Singh Sidhu and Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa greeted each other during Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony in Islamabad.
Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf tweeted a photo of him, introducing him as ‘Prime Minister of Pakistan.’
Imran Khan's wife Bushra Maneka was present at his oath-taking ceremony.
Imran Khan arrived at the President House for his oath-taking ceremony, reported Dawn News.
Oath-taking ceremony begins with the recitation of Holy Quran.
PTI Chief Imran Khan takes oath as 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan. He was administered oath by the country’s President Mamnoon Hussain.
Navjot Singh Sidhu was seated next to President of PoK Masood Khan at Imran Khan's oath ceremony, reported ANI.
J&K Congress Chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir reacted to Navjot Singh Sidhu being seated next to PoK President Masood Khan, at Imran Khan’s oath ceremony in Pakistan, saying: