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Pakistan’s new prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi poses for a photo during an interview in Jhang, Pakistan July 7, 2017.(Reuters File)[/caption]
Islamabad, August 1 (IANS/PTI): 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.
Polls in September for seat vacated by Pakistan’s ex-PM Nawaz Sharif
Pakistan will hold polls on September 17 for the Lahore parliamentary seat in Punjab province that was vacated by ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the election commission announced on Tuesday.
Sharif’s brother and Punjab province chief minister Shehbaz Sharif has been chosen by the PML-N party to contest from the NA-120 constituency in Lahore, which fell vacant after the prime minister was disqualified on November 28.
The Supreme Court last week disqualified 67-year-old Nawaz Sharif for dishonesty and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children over the Panama Papers scandal, forcing him to resign.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), candidates may submit their nominations between August 10 and 12. Their applications will be scrutinised between August 15- 17.
The election in NA-120 will take place on September 17, the ECP said.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) initially announced that Yasmeen Rashid will contest the election but there are also reports that PTI may field former governor of Punjab and its active member Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.