New Pakistan PM Khan says no vote-rigging

‘Ruthless accountability’ vowed in corruption fight

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan was sworn in as prime minister on Saturday despite protests by opposition parties, which accuse the security services of intervening on his behalf in last month’s elections.

Khan’ s Tehreek-e-Insaf party won the most seats in the July 25 national elections but fell short of an outright majority. It allied with independents to form a coalition, and Khan was elected by the National Assembly on Friday. Khan had campaigned on promises to combat Pakistan’s endemic corruption and break powerful landowners’ monopoly on political power.

Opposition parties have held regular protests since last month’s election, alleging vote-rigging by the powerful security establishment. Security officials have rejected the allegations, and Khan has vowed to investigate the charges of voting fraud, saying neither he nor his party was involved in any wrongdoing.

“We have not committed any rigging,” he told lawmakers in a speech after being sworn in.

Khan secured 176 votes in the assembly on Friday, defeating the opposition’s candidate, Shahbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League, who got 96 votes. Sharif and his party’s lawmakers disrupted Khan’s speech by chanting slogans against him. Khan responded by saying no one could blackmail him through such protests.

Khan has promised “ruthless accountability” to combat corruption, and has said he will move to a small house in Islamabad rather than live in the lavish prime minister’s residence.

The U.S. government issued a statement Saturday “welcoming” the new prime minister.

“For over 70 years, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan has been a vital one,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in the statement. “The United States looks forward to working with Pakistan’s new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region.”

Khan acquired a reputation as a playboy during his cricketing years but embraced conservative Islam after entering politics.

Khan emerged as a critic of the socalled War on Terror after the 9/11 attacks, accusing the United States of fueling extremism by carrying out drone strikes in Pakistan that killed civilians.

Imran Khan