New prime minister elected in Pakistan

Wednesday, 2 August 2017 07:00

A new prime minister has been elected to office in Pakistan.

Lawmakers elected Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to take the place of Nawaz Sharif.

Sharif was disqualified from office last week following a Supreme Court investigation into corruption allegations against his family, which came as a result of the Panama Papers leak.

Mr Abbasi, a former oil minister, was elected with 221 votes from the 342-member National Assembly.

It is believed the ruling party only wants Abbasi to take office temporarily, as they wait until the ousted PM’s brother, Shahbaz Sharif, can take over.

The current Punjab province chief minister must win a parliamentary by-election to be eligible to become prime minister.

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