Newly elected parliament meets for the first time
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s newly elected parliament convened yesterday for the first time since last month’s general elections which saw former cricket star turned politician Imran Khan’s party win most seats, propelling him toward the post of the country’s next prime minister.
The lawmakers were sworn in during a ceremony in the 342-seat National Assembly. Fireworks were also expected to mark the eve of Pakistan’s Independence Day.
The parliament is to elect a speaker and his deputy tomorrow and vote on the prime minister the following day. The swearingin ceremony for the prime minister is due on Saturday.
Mr Khan’s populist Tahreek-e-Insaf party won 115 seats in the July 25 vote, requiring it to form a coalition.
Party spokesman Fawad Chaudhry has said that in the days following the balloting, more lawmakers joined its ranks and that it now enjoys the backing of 180 parliament members after several women lawmakers, minority and independents sided with Mr Khan. He needs 172 lawmaker votes to become prime minister.
Mr Khan has campaigned on the promise to create 10 million new jobs, wipe out corruption and help the poor, saying he would run Pakistan like never before.
Pakistan’s former President Asif Ali Zardari and head of the ex-ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, Shahbaz Sharif, also attended yesterday’s ceremony. Mr Khan avoided shaking hands with the two.
Pakistan’s opposition parties and rights activists have claimed the results of elections were manipulated by the military, which has ruled Pakistan directly or indirectly for most of its history. The military denies the allegations, saying it only provided security during the balloting.
The Pakistan Muslim League party has claimed the elections were rigged to prevent disgraced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from returning to power.
Sharif, who is currently appealing a 10-month prison sentence for the misuse of funds to purchase luxury apartments in Britain, was arrested on July 13 after returning from London.
As Pakistan’s new lawmakers took their oath of office, Sharif was taken by armoured car from his jail cell at Adiala prison to the accountability court in the capital, Islamabad, to face more corruption charges.
Sharif’s daughter Maryam was sentenced to seven years in the same case while her husband received a one-year sentence.