Islamabad: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was on Tuesday elected the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, replacing Nawaz Sharif who was disqualified by the Supreme Court last week.
Mr Abbasi, who will hold the office for around two months, secured 221 votes. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Naveed Qamar received 47 votes while Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Sheikh Rashid Ahmed got 33 votes.
Shahbaz Sharif, brother of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, is to contest by-polls in September and would be eventually elected as the premier for the remaining term of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) in the government which is until June 2018.
The session was summoned by President Mamnoon Hussain after the top court ordered the state executive to take all steps possible for smooth transfer of powers and take care of the affairs following the premier’s ousting under Article 62 and Article 63.
Addressing the National Assembly after the election, Mr Abbasi said the PML-N had implemented the SC decision against Mr Sharif but had not accepted it. He said the former Prime Minister only worked for the prosperity of the country and was punished for making Pakistan a nuclear power.
“I am grateful to you all, for following the democratic process whether you voted for or against me. I am grateful to the people of Pakistan, and I am grateful to the ‘people’s premier’, Nawaz Sharif,” Mr Abbasi said in his acceptance speech.
“I am also grateful to the Opposition and Imran Khan, for remembering us in their daily slandering,” he said.
He praised Mr Sharif’s leadership and principles and criticised the Opposition for accusing him of corruption. “Justice demands that 1,000 guilty are set free than one innocent is convicted,” Mr Abbasi said.
“It is my firm belief that Nawaz Sharif will return to the seat of premiership,” he said.
Mr Abbasi also promised that “Whether I am in power for 45 days or 45 hours, I will work as the Prime Minister of the country and will not merely hold the post.”
Earlier, Mr Abbasi, had said that his election was a victory for democracy.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, the Election Commission of Pakistan also announced that by-polls for the Lahore parliamentary seat in Punjab province which fell vacant after Mr Sharif was ouster, will be held on September 17.
