Abbasi elected Pakistan PM (Lead)

Islamabad Aug 1 (IANS) Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was on Tuesday elected the interim Prime Minister four days after the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif from holding the post.

Abbasi who bagged 221 votes in the polling in the National Assembly will hold the post until Sharif s brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif takes charge of the federal government.

The PML-N agreed upon the Petroleum Minister as its candidate till Shahbaz Sharif wins a parliamentary by-election expected within two months.

Abbasi Naveed Qamar Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Sahibzada Tariqullah competed for the post of interim Prime Minister Dawn online reported.

Lawmakers from cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf voted for Sheikh Rashid while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement the PML-N and its allies chose Abbasi. Imran Khan did not turn up for the event.

--IANS
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