ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan becomes Prime Minister of Pakistan with 176 votesagainst Shahbaz Sharif securing 96 votes.
The National Assembly session to elect Pakistan’s 22nd prime minister isunderway.
Parliamentarians are casting their vote for either Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan or Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) PresidentShehbaz Sharif.
MNAs voting for Imran are proceeding towards Lobby A (right) and those forShehbaz towards Lobby B (left).
Prior to proceeding towards Lobby B, Shehbaz Sharif spoke to Bilawal Bhuttoto Zardari to persuade him not to abstain. According to sources, Bilawalexcused himself from voting.
PPP which has announed it would abstain from voting remained seated ontheir benches.
Earlier, PML-N MNAs including Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the NationalAssembly wearing black armbands. Sharif and Imran Khan greeted each otherprior to the start of the session.
According to sources, members of the PML-N will protest after the electionis over.
[image: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrives at Parliament alongwith sisters Bakhtawar and Aseefa – Photo: Screengrab]linkPPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrives at Parliament along withsisters Bakhtawar and Aseefa – Photo: Screengrab[image: Imran, Shehbaz greet each other ahead of the PM election – Photo:Screengrab]linkImran, Shehbaz greet each other ahead of the PM election – Photo: Screengrab[image: PTI Chairman Imran Khan arrives at the National Assembly – Photo:Screengrab]linkPTI Chairman Imran Khan arrives at the National Assembly – Photo: Screengrab[image: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrives at Parliament alongwith sisters Bakhtawar and Aseefa – Photo: Screengrab]linkPPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrives at Parliament along withsisters Bakhtawar and Aseefa – Photo: Screengrab[image: Imran, Shehbaz greet each other ahead of the PM election – Photo:Screengrab]linkImran, Shehbaz greet each other ahead of the PM election – Photo: Screengrab
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told reporters that it was thedemocratic right of this party to abstain from voting in the prime ministerelection.
The PPP withdrew its support for Shehbaz Sharif on Friday and announced itwould not be voting for any candidate.