London: Sadiq Khan has a simple, striking message for Londoners: He's going to be a mayor for all.
To emphasize his message, Khan celebrated his landslide election victory Saturday in a multi-faith ceremony at a riverside Anglican cathedral.
Read: Son of Pak immigrant Sadiq Khan elected London's first Muslim mayor
He says he's determined to be an approachable Everyman for his city of 8.2 million - including a million residents who, like him, happen to be Muslim.
His Labour Party candidacy to lead London triumphed in the face of a Conservative campaign trying to tar him as sympathetic to Islamic extremists. Leading Muslim Conservatives expressed shame and anger Saturday over their own party's attacks on Khan, a London-born son of Pakistani immigrants who became a human rights lawyer, lawmaker and now mayor.
News of Khan's win in the British capital featured on the front pages of all major Pakistani newspapers Saturday, while also causing a stir on social media.
"Congratulations @SadiqKhan 4 being elected mayor of
"British Pakistanis need +ve rolemodel," he added.
Rival opposition leader and former cricketer Imran Khan -- whose ex-wife Jemima is the sister of Sadiq Khan's principal opponent Zac Goldsmith -- also tweeted his congratulations to the new mayor.
Elsewhere on social media most Pakistanis appeared to greet Khan's win with pride, with messages marking the recent successes of other high-profile British Muslims -- including former One Direction member Zayn Malik, who also has Pakistani heritage -- going viral Saturday.
